NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — If you make a tobacco or hemp product purchase in Tennessee, you may continue to be carded even if you’re more than double the legal age to purchase, should a bill filed in the state legislature pass.
Knoxville Republican Sen. Becky Massey has filed a bill that would raise the “prospective” age limit on identification rules for tobacco or hemp product sales.
Under current state law, all tobacco and hemp product purchases require you to be at least 21 years old. Establishments that sell these products are required to ask you for identification to prove you are at least 21 unless “an ordinary person would conclude” you to be at least 30 years old.
Massey’s bill, SB 707, would raise that reasonable conclusion to at least 50 years old, meaning more people would be required to be carded even if they are already over 21. The bill is carried by Rep. William Slater (R-Gallatin) in the House.
Prior to making a sale of, or distributing, tobacco, smoking hemp, vapor product, or smokeless nicotine product…the prospective purchaser or recipient must present to the seller or distributor, proof of age, if any ordinary person would conclude on the basis of appearance that the prospective purchaser or recipient may be less than fifty (50) years of age.
Senate Bill 707, Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville)
If passed, the bill would take effect this July, according to the specific language of the bill.
