The Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has scheduled consideration and a potential vote on two marijuana-related bills—one to legalize recreational use and another to decriminalize possession—on March 19.
House Bill 836, titled the “Tennessee Cannabis Act,” would allow everyone 21 and older to possess up to 60 grams of marijuana flower and 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. It would also allow home cultivation of up to 12 plants, and licensed sales. The proposal includes a 15% tax on marijuana sales, with most revenue directed to the state’s general fund.
House Bill 981 takes a narrower approach, decriminalizing the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis and the personal cultivation of up to five plants. It would also give local governments the authority to impose civil penalties instead of criminal charges for low-level marijuana offenses.
If approved by the subcommittee, both bills will advance to the full Judiciary Committee for further consideration. The proposals come as a December 2024 Vanderbilt Poll found 63% of Tennesseans support legal marijuana, including a majority of Republicans and Democrats.
