Tennessee Must Act Now to Protect Kids from THC Vapes

Every day across Tennessee, our young people are being quietly targeted by a growing industry that disguises danger as harmless pleasure. Sleek vape pens, often sold in bright packaging and candy flavors, are flooding our communities—many of them infused with synthetic or semi-synthetic THC compounds like Delta-8 and Delta-10. They’re easy to buy, easy to hide, and dangerously easy to misunderstand.

For too long, we’ve watched this unfold in our schools, neighborhoods, and even church communities. Parents are catching their teenagers with vapes that look innocent—until they realize these aren’t simple nicotine devices but potent mind-altering substances. The effects on mental health, brain development, and judgment are real, and the industry knows exactly what it’s doing: hook the young before they know better.

That’s why Tennessee must follow the lead of states like Arkansas and Texas and pass a strong, clear ban on THC vaping products.

In 2023, Arkansas lawmakers took decisive action with a bipartisan measure that outlawed the sale of Delta-8, Delta-9, and other psychoactive hemp-derived products. They recognized that these substances, though often marketed as “legal,” pose serious health risks and are being exploited to skirt around drug laws designed to protect public safety.

Texas followed suit, passing its own restrictions on THC vapes and hemp-derived intoxicants—and when those laws were challenged in federal court, Texas stood firm. The courts upheld the state’s right to regulate these dangerous substances, affirming what Tennesseans already know: states have both the authority and the duty to protect public health, especially when it comes to safeguarding children.

Tennessee faces the same problem—and it’s only getting worse.

In recent months, I’ve spoken with high schoolers in the Nashville area who openly admit that THC vapes are everywhere. “You can get them at gas stations,” one student told me. “Everyone knows where to find them.” Parents feel helpless, schools are struggling to enforce bans, and law enforcement is left trying to regulate a product that sits in a legal gray zone.

One enforcement officer at a Nashville public school recently told me about a troubling incident that illustrates just how deep the problem runs. He and other staff members caught a group of students in the bathroom passing around THC vapes during class hours. Some of the students appeared dazed, unable to focus or even walk steadily. “They think it’s harmless because it’s sold legally,” he said. “But what’s happening is these kids are getting high in our schools, in broad daylight, right under everyone’s nose.” This isn’t an isolated story—it’s a symptom of a statewide crisis.

This is not just a policy issue—it’s a moral one. When laws fail to protect children, adults must step up. We have a responsibility, both as citizens and as believers, to stand between our kids and the forces that would harm them for profit.

Tennessee has long been a leader in defending family values and public health. From combating the opioid epidemic to curbing underage tobacco use, we’ve proven that when Tennesseans unite around what’s right, change happens. The next battle in that fight is the unregulated spread of THC vapes.

Opponents of reform will say that banning these products infringes on business rights or personal freedom. But freedom without responsibility always comes at a cost—and in this case, the cost is measured in damaged young lives. Just as we don’t allow alcohol sales to minors or drug dealers to operate freely, we cannot allow THC vapes to be peddled in convenience stores a block away from our schools.

What Tennessee needs is a clear, constitutionally sound law—crafted within our state’s legal framework—that prohibits the sale and distribution of THC vape products. This isn’t about criminalizing adults who seek medical relief; it’s about closing the loopholes that let psychoactive vapes reach minors with ease.

Our neighboring states have already paved the way. Arkansas proved that bipartisan action can succeed. Texas proved that state authority can withstand federal challenge. Tennessee should now take up the mantle—standing firm for families, students, and communities that deserve protection.

This issue also speaks to something deeper: our responsibility as a society to guard the hearts and minds of the next generation. Scripture reminds us that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). The vaping industry, with its deceptive marketing and disregard for youth wellbeing, is doing just that—stealing focus, killing potential, and destroying futures.

We can’t afford to wait until the statistics catch up with reality. We can’t wait until another child winds up in the hospital, or another teenager develops a dependency that began with a “legal” vape. Tennessee’s leaders must act now—decisively, boldly, and in defense of what is right.

Our children deserve to grow up free from addictive substances marketed as harmless fun. Parents deserve peace of mind. Communities deserve protection. And Tennessee deserves laws that reflect both our values and our vision for a healthier, safer future.