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The question of whether or not cannabis is legal in Tennessee is a complicated one. There are a number of factors to consider, including the type of cannabis product, the purpose for which it will be used, and the laws of the state in which it will be consumed.
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The Current Legal Status of Cannabis in Tennessee
Cannabis is currently illegal for recreational use in Tennessee. However, the state has a limited medical marijuana program that allows certain patients to use cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
Patients with one of the following qualifying conditions are eligible to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program:
-Cancer
-Glaucoma
– HIV/AIDS
– Hepatitis C
– Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
– Crohn’s Disease
– Ulcerative Colitis
– Sickle Cell Anemia
– Severe Nausea
– Seizures (including those related to epilepsy)
participating patients are required to register with the state in order to receive a medical cannabis ID card. Once registered, patients are allowed to purchase up to a 90-day supply of medical cannabis from a state licensed dispensary.
The History of Cannabis in Tennessee
Cannabis has been used in Tennessee for centuries, dating back to the Native Americans who inhabited the region. However, it was not until the early 1900s that cannabis started to become popular among the general population. Around this time, cannabis was introduced to the state by Mexican immigrants who were fleeing the Mexican Revolution. Cannabis quickly became a staple of the state’s agricultural industry, and by the 1920s Tennessee was one of the largest producers of cannabis in the United States.
In 1933, the state of Tennessee passed a law making cannabis illegal. This was done in response to the growing nationwide movement to ban cannabis. Despite this law, cannabis continued to be grown and used in Tennessee, albeit discreetly. In 1971, a law was passed decriminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis, but it was not until 2014 that medical cannabis was legalized in the state. Finally, in 2016, a law was passed making industrial hemp legal in Tennessee.
The Future of Cannabis in Tennessee
The future of cannabis in Tennessee is looking bright. In 2016, a bill was passed that legalized medical cannabis for certain conditions. However, the bill did not make it legal to grow or sell cannabis in the state. In 2019, another bill was passed that expanded the list of qualifying medical conditions and made it legal to grow and sell cannabis in the state. The first dispensaries are expected to open in 2020.
