This bill is too extreme. I am in favor of common sense regulation that eliminates unsafe synthetic intoxicants from the market and products unregulated.
By Nicole Dyer, U.S. Pain Foundation through Tennessee Lookout
I live in Tennessee, am a mom of three, and have a chronic, debilitating pain disorder.
I am also CEO of a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives for the over 51,6 million Americans living with chronic pain. And right now, I’m deeply alarmed by Tennessee legislation that could strip away access to the thing that helps me—and thousands of others—get through the day: safe, full-spectrum CBD.
House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 would limit even trace amounts of delta-9 THC in hemp-derived products—effectively banning many full-spectrum CBD products that are non-intoxicating, carefully formulated and third-party tested. Although I’m in support of sensible regulation to remove unsafe synthetic products and unregulated ones from the market this bill goes way too far. This bill isn’t about protecting consumers; it could harm over 665,000 Tennesseans, who depend on full-spectrum CBD hemp oil for relief.
For people living with chronic pain, full-spectrum CBD is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. My pain has been a constant companion for more than 30 years. I have a chronic, rare pain disorder that is characterized by widespread burning pain. The simplest tasks—standing, lifting my child, working a full day—can be nearly impossible without some form of relief. From prescription drugs to physical therapies to surgical intervention, I’ve tried hundreds of different treatments. Some treatments helped. The majority didn’t. It is the only thing that makes a consistent difference. It relieves pain, eases muscle spasms & reduces swelling.
Every day, I use three specific full-spectrum products—a tincture, a topical and an edible. The products are a trace amount of THC naturally found in the plant. This is within the legal federal limit of 0.3%. They don’t make me high. These products help me to sleep. I can be at work and with my family. They help me contribute to my local community and take care of my family. They are the only thing that keeps me going.
There are others like me.
We regularly receive feedback from people who are experiencing chronic pain and have difficulty accessing care. We hear regularly from people who are having serious difficulties in accessing care or relief for chronic pain. Barriers such as stigma, expensive treatment, restrictive policies and limited options are often in the way. Hemp-derived CBD is an important part of some people’s pain management plans, allowing them to live with more dignity and less suffering.
In fact, a national survey we conducted in 2022 found that 22 percent of respondents currently use hemp-derived CBD products—often alongside other therapies as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care. They deserve to have access to treatments that will help them.
Science has also caught up. CBD is a promising treatment for chronic pain. This includes neuropathic pain and inflammation. Unlike isolated cannabinoids, full-spectrum CBD includes all naturally occurring compounds from the cannabis plant—such as a range of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids—which work together to produce what’s known as the ‘entourage effect.’
Research has shown that cannabinoids have a number of potential uses in the treatment of pain. It also highlights the synergistic effects and entourage effect. Full-spectrum products are essential for achieving the best therapeutic results.
Tennessee legislators are still preparing to take away this choice from those who most need it, in spite of the growing evidence. HB 1376/SB 201413 fail to differentiate between therapeutic full-spectrum non-intoxicating products and synthetic or recreational drugs that are a cause for concern. It threatens to undermine the independence, health and stability of thousands Tennesseans with pain.
This bill was a heartbreaking piece of legislation. But I still hold out hope—hope that rests now with Gov. Bill Lee, R. In a letter to Bill Lee, I urged him to veto the bill. I ask my fellow Tennesseans—especially those who’ve never had to think twice about how they manage their pain—to consider what’s at stake.
It’s not about legalization or special treatment. This is about access to safe plant-based tools for wellness. Public policy that is based on evidence and doesn’t penalize people who are trying to live with their illnesses. Understanding that one size fits all health care often leaves the most vulnerable people behind is key.
Your neighbors, colleagues, grandparents and veterans are us. Tennesseans want to be productive despite their pain. Please don’t remove one of our few tools to help us achieve this.
I wish Gov. Lee is expected to veto HB1376/SB1413, protecting access to CBD full spectrum. Tennessee: Preserve dignity, autonomy, and the well-being for people with chronic pain.
Nicole Dyer, CEO of U.S. Pain Foundation.
Tennessee Lookout was the first to publish this story.
A new study found that CBD helped to relieve chronic pain in more than 98% of patients.