Conversations on cannabis will occur at the state Capitol today as hemp advocates, including the Tennessee Growers Coalition, will spend the day talking with lawmakers.

Tuesday will be considered Hemp Day on the Hill. The Coalition plans to talk to their representatives about having an accessible and safe hemp industry while staying economically viable.

Lawmakers will focus on a Delta 8 and hemp product safety bill. Delta 8 is a psychoactive substance found in a cannabis plant giving someone a high similar to marijuana. You can buy delta 8 in the form of a vape, gummies, or even cookies.

It is currently legal to sell to anyone in Tennessee, despite their age. However, most will only sell it to those over 21. The concern is that it could get in the hands of children.

At least 18 states have regulated, restricted, or banned THC-Delta 8. However, Tennessee is not one of them. This ban is something one Tennessee lawmaker wants to change.

“This legislation, we’re hoping if we can get support and get it through, that it will start regulating an industry that definitely needs regulating,” Republican state Rep. Chris Hurt said.

 115 cases of accidental overdoses of Delta 8 were reported to the Tennessee Poison Center in 2021 and 30 percent of those were children under five years old.