Tennessee’s Stance on Medical Marijuana May Shift with Federal Changes
Tennessee is one of the nine states that has yet to legalize cannabis for any purpose, but a potential shift in federal policy could pave the way for medical marijuana in the state. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently considering reclassifying marijuana, a move that would not legalize it but could make it easier to study and prescribe under strict conditions.
In 2020, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, which would place it alongside certain codeine-based prescription medications and other drugs with accepted medical uses. While marijuana would still be illegal federally, rescheduling could ease some federal restrictions on state-legal programs.
Two Tennessee lawmakers who are physicians, Representative Bryan Terry and Senator Richard Briggs, support doctor-prescribed medical marijuana and believe it could gain the necessary support if the DEA reclassifies the drug. Medical marijuana could provide relief for patients suffering from chronic pain, nausea, and other ailments.
The potential shift in federal policy has sparked hope among medical professionals and advocates in Tennessee, who believe it could lead to a change in the state’s stance on medical marijuana. However, the decision ultimately rests with the Tennessee General Assembly, which would need to pass legislation legalizing medical marijuana.
