Every year each state revises their laws on marijuana. We wanted to make things easy for you, and put all of the most important updates to the Tennessee Marijuana Laws in one place. Learn more about these changes below.
Status: Illegal
Decriminalized: No
Medical: No
Medical Cannabis Shifts to 2020 in Tennessee
In 2018, three states joined the list of approved medical marijuana laws. Missouri, Utah, and Oklahoma, bringing the total number of states with a medical program to 33. Tennessee is unfortunately not one of them, being one of 17 states that still penalize those trying to use a safer alternative to opiates.
Because Tennessee doesn’t have a voter initiative, they have to rely on elected officials to make changes to the state laws. In February of 2019, republicans introduced two bills (SB-486) (HB-637) that would allow medical marijuana.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act, brought about by Sen, Bowling and Rep. Travis, would help to relieve patients with marijuana that suffer from the following conditions…
- Chronic Pain
- Cancer
- Spasms
- Seizures
- PTSD
- Opioid Addiction
In April of 2019, worried of facing a loss, Sen. Dickerson postponed the two bills until early 2020. This delay may seem discouraging, but it should give them a little bit more time to build support for the program.
Let your state know that you think that the 81% of voters who are in favor of the medical marijuana bill should be heard. Doctors and patients should be the one to decide whether medical cannabis is right for them.
The Current Tennessee Marijuana Laws
Medical and recreational marijuana in Tennessee are both illegal, though they do allow patients with seizures to use CBD oil.
Cultivation and Possession are Illegal: Possessing any amount of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor, a fine of $2,500, and could land you in jail for a year. Cultivating 10 plants or less is a felony, and could land you in prison for 6 years, along with a hefty $5,000 fine. If you have more than 10 plants, the fines and charges increase drastically for each individual plant.
State Blocks Decriminalization: In 2016 the cities of Nashville and Memphis both passed ordinances giving the officers discretion to charge those possessing small amounts of cannabis with a civil infraction. Unfortunately, after the legislature passed the governor of Tennessee signed a bill that repealed the local cannabis decriminalization laws.
Now, in 2019, Tennessee has dozens of new lawmakers, and a new governor, so the time is now to speak up and get your government officials onboard for statewide reform.
Stay tuned for more updates to the Tennessee Marijuana Laws.
