Marijuana commercial activity is illegal in Tennessee. Memphis zoning permits hemp retailers, smoke shops, and vape stores only in commercial and limited industrial districts under Memphis-Shelby Unified Development Code, often subject to conditional-use review.
Because Tennessee prohibits medical and recreational marijuana, no commercial cannabis dispensaries operate in Memphis. The Memphis-Shelby Unified Development Code (UDC) governs zoning for related uses: tobacco retailers, hemp shops, and vape stores generally fall under the broader 'retail' or 'specialty retail' classifications and are permitted in CMU, CRO, and CMP commercial districts. Some districts require a conditional-use permit, particularly in mixed-use neighborhoods or near residential areas. Operators must also satisfy state licensing under the Tennessee Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Act, the Tennessee Tobacco Tax law, and Memphis Business License requirements (Code Chapter 9). Home occupation permits do not authorize hemp or tobacco sales.
Operating a hemp or smoke shop in a residential district, or without a conditional-use permit where required, can result in zoning enforcement, business license revocation, and Code Enforcement citations under Memphis Code Chapter 25.
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