Election Laws

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on funding or actions based on referendum results.

Tennessee Non-Binding Marijuana Referendum Act

This bill requires Tennessee county election commissions to include three non-binding questions about marijuana legalization on the November 2026 ballot and mandates the secretary of state to compile, publish, and distribute the results.

What This Bill Does

• Requires each county election commission to add three specific questions about marijuana laws to the November 2026 ballot.
• Specifies that these questions are non-binding referenda for voters' opinions only.
• Directs the secretary of state to collect, publish on their website, and send the results to all members of the Tennessee General Assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters in Tennessee who will see these questions on their ballots in November 2026.
• County election commissions responsible for adding the questions to the ballot.
• The secretary of state and other officials tasked with compiling and publishing results.

Terms To Know

non-binding referendum

A vote that does not have legal force but is used to gauge public opinion.

advisory referendum

Similar to a non-binding referendum, it provides guidance or advice without being legally binding.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what actions should be taken based on the results of the referenda.
• It is unclear how much funding will be needed for implementation and if there are any state funds allocated for this purpose.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires each county election commission to include
all of
the follow
ing questions on the November 202
6
election ballot to serve as a non-binding, advisory referendum:



Should the State of Tennessee legalize medical marijuana? YES or NO



Should the State of Tennessee decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana? YES or NO



Should the State of Tennessee legalize and regulate commercial sales of recreational use marijuana? YES or NO

This bill requires the secretary of state to compile the results of the non-binding, advisory referendum, publish the results
on the secretary of state's website, and forward the results to each member of the general assembly.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 960
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 1370
By Chism

HB1370
002627
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to non-binding, advisory referenda.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Each county election commission shall include the following questions on
the November 2026 election ballot to serve as a non-binding, advisory referendum:
Should the State of Tennessee legalize medical marijuana? YES or NO
Should the State of Tennessee decriminalize possession of less than one ounce (1 oz.)
of marijuana? YES or NO
Should the State of Tennessee legalize and regulate commercial sales of recreational
use marijuana? YES or NO
SECTION 2. The secretary of state shall compile the results of the non-binding,
advisory referendum, publish the results on the secretary of state's website, and forward the
results to each member of the general assembly.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.