As of July 1, the Tennessee Cannabis Association (THCA) ban remains in place, but there is hope that the state may reconsider its stance on medical marijuana. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently reviewing President Donald Trump’s guidance to reclassify marijuana, a move that could make it easier to study and prescribe the drug under controlled conditions.
Trump signed an executive order in 2025 directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, which would still be illegal federally but would ease some federal restrictions on state-legal programs. This shift could potentially pave the way for Tennessee to legalize medical marijuana.
Currently, Tennessee is one of nine states that has not legalized cannabis for any purpose, along with Indiana, which is one of only 10 states that doesn’t allow medical or recreational marijuana use. However, if the DEA follows Trump’s guidance, medical marijuana could gain traction in the state, with some lawmakers expressing support for the move.
The rescheduling of marijuana would not legalize it, but it would make it easier to conduct medical research and prescribe the drug under controlled conditions. This could potentially lead to a change in Tennessee’s stance on medical marijuana, allowing patients to access the drug for therapeutic purposes.
