New Laws Go Into Effect January 2026

TENNESSEE — The new year brings some new laws to Tennessee, affecting THC regulations, social media control for minors and the creation of a domestic violence registry. The laws, passed in early 2025, go into effect January 1, 2026.

Here’s a look at what’s changing, starting with new THC laws:

THC, defined as a “tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, a THC component, or any derivative thereof” faces an onslaught of new regulations under HB 1376. The new law effectively bans the sale of products with high levels of THCA and other intoxicating cannabinoids.

Starting in the new year, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverages Commission will take over the regulation of the THC industry from the Department of Agriculture.

State law will prohibit the sale of most hemp products, including those with total or theoretical THC content exceeding 0.3% by weight. As a result, the state has effectively outlawed all THCA products. The sale of all remaining hemp products are also limited under the new law.

Sales will be restricted to in-person purchases by individuals age 21 and older.

THC edibles and beverages will have new limits on serving and packaging sizes. Packages are also required to be child-resistant, and product marketing must not be made specifically to appeal to consumers under the age of 21 years old.

These products may only be sold in restricted-access locations, such as specialized retail stores, liquor stores, and hemp shops. The products must be maintained behind a barrier.

Online sales, shipping, and delivery of hemp-derived cannabinoid products are also prohibited.

Additionally, a new wholesale tax structure based on milligrams of cannabinoids or gallons of liquid products will be imposed, replacing the previous retail tax.

Also changing in 2026 are parental control options over minors’ social media accounts.

Tennessee is implementing two new laws expanding parents’ control over their minor children’s online activities, including social media use and access to adult content.

The Protecting Children from Social Media Act (HB 1891) was passed to give parents greater oversight of their children’s access to social media. The law requires parental consent for the creation of new social media accounts by anyone under the age of 18. Additionally, parents will have the means to supervise their child’s social media accounts by viewing privacy settings, setting daily time restrictions and implementing breaks during which their child cannot access their accounts.

The state also passed a law creating a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders, maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “Savanna’s Law” (HB 1200) rules that anyone convicted of domestic violence who has a prior conviction on record will be required to register.

The law is named after Savanna Puckett, a Middle Tennessee deputy who died after being stabbed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022.

These new laws follow the array of laws that took effect in July 2025, right after the 2025 legislation session concluded.