The Laws are Changing, We are Moving to NC
May 15, 2026
The Laws are Changing,
We are Moving to NC
We've always said that Gold Spectrum isn't just a business. It's a community. It's the people who show up to work every day at our Smoky Grass Station locations, the farmers who grow with us, the customers who trust us, and the neighbors who've watched us build something real in East Tennessee.
That's what makes this so hard to write.
We had to file a WARN notice to the state of Tennessee. Come July 13, we will be laying off 121 employees across our Tri-Cities and Smoky Mountains locations. These are real people. Parents, neighbors, friends. And they are losing their jobs not because of anything we did wrong, but because Tennessee is changing the rules on an industry it helped build.
What Happened?
Last year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed Public Charter 526, handing regulatory authority over hemp products from the Department of Agriculture to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). With it came a sweeping ban on THCA and other intoxicating hemp-derived products. The TABC begins enforcement on June 30 - July 1.
THCA isn't some fringe product. It quickly grew to represent an estimated 75% of overall Tennessee hemp sales. Tennessee legalized it. Businesses followed the rules, signed leases, hired employees, and paid taxes in good faith.
Now the state is moving to wipe that out.
A Note to Our Customers
Gold Spectrum isn't disappearing. Our online store remains open, and we will continue to serve you with the same quality, transparency, and care you've always counted on. Our products will continue to be tested, certified, and held to the Gold Standard, because that will never change.
If you want to help, make your voice heard. Contact your Tennessee representatives. Tell them what this industry means to you, to your community, and to the hardworking people who built it.
We're not done fighting.
What this means for East TN
121 jobs. Gone.
Approximately $750,000 in annual payroll leaving Tennessee and heading to North Carolina, where we're now being forced to relocate in order to keep our business alive.
This isn't the outcome we wanted. We built Gold Spectrum in Tennessee. We bleed orange (and gold). We would have given anything to stay and grow here. But when the state effectively tells you to shut down while doing little to stop out-of-state sellers from shipping the exact same products directly to Tennessee consumers — including minors — there aren't many options left.
As our CEO Zack Green put it:
"Licensed, responsible, and law-abiding Tennessee hemp retailers already are competing at a disadvantage. Our research confirms out-of-state retailers simply ignore state-level laws and regulations to sell THCA online with wild abandon and no safeguards to protect Tennessee kids. Come June 30, they won't have to compete against us at all."
Looking Ahead
We're not going quietly. We've been at the table, talking to legislators, educating policymakers, and advocating alongside partners like the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association (TNHAA) for a smarter path forward.
To our 121 employees: we see you. We are fighting for you. This decision was never taken lightly, and we are working to support every single person affected through this transition.
We encourage anyone and everyone to make your voice heard. Contact your Tennessee representatives. Tell them what this industry means to you, to your community, and to the hardworking people who built it.
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