KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As Tennessee prepares to overhaul its hemp industry on July 1, a Knoxville hemp retailer says the new regulations could force his business to close after eight years. while supporters of the changes argue the shift is about regulation and protecting consumers.
Andy Chesney, owner of Hemp House, said the state’s new hemp regulations will fundamentally change how retailers operate by restricting products, requiring wholesalers to act as middlemen between suppliers and retailers, and shifting oversight to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
“For the last eight years, I’ve made my living this way,” Chesney said. “I’ve heard so many stories of uplifting recovery from customers. This is not about me or my business. This is about consumers.”…