NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Those convicted of selling hemp-derived cannabinoids to people under 21 will soon be required to go to jail for at least two days and pay a minimum $500 fine, thanks to a new state law set to go into effect July 1.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland), told lawmakers the idea was brought to him by educators in his district.

“The number of students gaining access to these gummies has skyrocketed," Rep. Howell said. “Our children think these are candy, and they’re far from candy.”

In 2023, the General Assembly made selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 a Class A misdemeanor.

The new legislation, which passed this year, will establish a required minimum punishment for those convicted. The person who physically sells the products to a minor will face jail time and the fine.

Despite some Democrats believing the store owner, not the employee, should be held responsible, the bill gained bipartisan support.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said in Sumner County, law enforcement did a sting on stores selling alcohol to minors years ago, and after a judge sentenced those convicted to 48 hours in jail, the problem improved.

"For years after that when they did those stings, there would be virtually no one that didn’t check an ID. I mean, this makes an effect and an impact," Leader Lamberth said. “It has a deterrent effect of just making sure people check ID. To me, that’s a reasonable thing to ask of a clerk, and if they’re going to sell a potentially dangerous substance and intoxicating substance to a minor, then they deserve to go to jail for 48 hours.”

The new law goes into effect July 1. According to the bill's fiscal note, no one has been convicted of selling hemp-derived cannabinoids to minors since lawmakers made it a crime in 2023.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/jail-time-fine-required-punishment-for-selling-hemp-derived-cannabinoids-to-minors-under-new-tn-law/