Oops !!! “Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission appeared to have sent out an email Saturday claiming to have lifted all restrictions on THCA and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission appeared to have sent out an email Saturday claiming to have lifted all restrictions on THCA and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

Hours later, the commission clarified that the email had been fraudulently sent. Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association officials suggested the agency had been “hacked,” but the commission has not yet made a determination on how the email was sent out.

“Dear Licensee, The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission has learned that a fraudulent email was distributed today that falsely appeared to come from TABC,” the commission wrote.

The commission’s full clarification is as follows:

“Dear Licensee,

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission has learned that a fraudulent email was distributed today that falsely appeared to come from TABC.

The message falsely claimed that restrictions on hemp-derived cannabinoid products had been lifted, kratom products were authorized for sale, inspections were optional, and TABC licensing accounts had been deleted. None of those statements is true.

Please disregard the fraudulent message. Do not click any links, reply to it, or rely on its contents.

TABC’s laws, rules, licensing requirements, product restrictions, inspection requirements, and enforcement practices remain in effect. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your attention to this matter.”

-Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission

The fraudulent email claimed to have enacted a policy shift superseeing Public Chapter 526 and the state’s July 1, 2026, THCA product rules. Approved by lawmakers earlier this year, the TABC-drafted regulations established a tiered licensing system, strict packaging and dosage caps, and mandatory product testing.

The fraudulent announcement told retailers across the state that shops were allowed to resume sales of all other hemp-derived cannabinoids at any concentration, including flower, edibles, beverages, and inhalable product. It also claimed to have authorized the retail sale of kratom products and declared that routine inspections are no longer mandatory.

This comes ahead of new federal restrictions set to take effect on Dec. 11, 2026. The bill, passed by Congress during government shutdown negotiations, will cap total THC content at just 0.4 milligrams per container.