Tennessee Gov. Signs Bill to Investigate Medical Cannabis Program Options

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) has signed a proposal requiring the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to investigate the operational readiness of state and local government agencies to support a medical cannabis program.

Tennessee is one of just 10 U.S. states without a comprehensive medical cannabis program.

The bill, which lawmakers approved last week and which was signed into law on Friday, gives TACIR until November 1, 2026, to submit its report.

“The federal government has realized they’ve been in the way for a long time. I would say within the next two or three years, you’re going to see a framework set up in Tennessee.” — Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), via WKRN

An amendment proposed during the bill’s passage through the Legislature would have automatically changed the state’s laws regarding medical cannabis if the federal government were to move cannabis out of the strictest drug schedule. But the amendment was blocked by Republican lawmakers, WKRN reports.

Gov. Lee previously said he opposes any form of cannabis legalization, according to the report.