Tennessee

Is weed legal in Tennessee?

Adult-use (recreational) weed is illegal. Cannabidiol (CBD) products containing less than 0.9% THC are legal for the treatment of intractable seizures.

Is medical marijuana legal in Tennessee?

Medical marijuana laws are very limited in Tennessee despite efforts in 2020 to put a legalization bill on the general election ballot. The one exception is for cannabidiol (CBD) products containing less than 0.9% THC for the treatment of intractable seizures, permitted by a 2015 law signed by Governor Bill Haslam. Medical cannabis treatment is only allowed in CBD oil form.

In recent years, anesthesiologists Rep. Bryan Terry and Sen. Steve Dickerson have been pushing the state legislature to take up legislation that would further explore the use of medical cannabis for qualifying conditions. Dickerson’s latest effort in 2018 dissolved when he saw that the medical use bill wouldn’t garner enough support.

Purchasing cannabis in Tennessee

CBD oil must be acquired legally in the US and outside of Tennessee. It must have a manufacturer’s label that says the product contains less than 0.9% THC. Purchasers must be able to show proof of legal purchase.

Weed possession laws in Tennessee

In 2020 Rep. Antonio Parkinson and Sen. Katrina Robinson pushed to raise the simple possession limit from 0.5 ounce of marijuana to 1 ounce of marijuana. However, their efforts have not been successful and possession of 0.5 ounce or less of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor in Tennessee punishable by up to a $250 fine and one year in jail.

That said, the Nashville District Attorney’s Office announced in 2020 that it will no longer prosecute for possession of less than 0.5 ounce of marijuana, opening the door for other jurisdictions to follow suit. This decision does not mean that marijuana has been decriminalized in Tennessee.

Qualifying conditions

Tennessee recognizes only conditions causing intractable seizures, such as epilepsy, as valid for using CBD.