HB1774 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 53; Title 57; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to medical cannabis.

Elections Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Freeman, Lamar
Last action: 2026-02-05
Official status: Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on what happens if the ballot question is approved or rejected by voters.

Medical Cannabis Advisory Ballot Question

This bill requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to put an advisory ballot question on the November 2026 ballot asking voters if they want a regulated medical cannabis program in the state.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Secretary of State to add an advisory ballot question about medical cannabis to the November 2026 election.

Who It Names or Affects

Tennessee voters who will see the ballot question in November 2026

Terms To Know

Advisory Ballot Question: A non-binding vote that asks voters for their opinion on an issue.
Regulated Medical Cannabis Program: A system where medical cannabis is legally available to patients who meet certain requirements, and its use is controlled by the government.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if voters approve or reject the ballot question.
It's unclear how many people will support or oppose the proposed medical cannabis program.

Bill History

2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Health Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 1768
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 1774
By Freeman
HB1774
011465
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2;
Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 53; Title 57; Title 63;
Title 67 and Title 68, relative to medical cannabis.

WHEREAS, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, thirty-seven
states have a medical cannabis regulatory structure; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee has demonstrated a commitment to serving the healthcare
needs of its citizens with compassion while honoring medical freedom and the broader
constitutional protections of all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Tennesseans believe in product safety and the protection of minors; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has not demonstrated a willingness to violate Tenth
Amendment guarantees in order for states to promulgate laws regarding intrastate cannabis
production and dispensation, as evidenced by the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr
Amendment, which has defunded all such activity; and
WHEREAS, Tennesseans believe in free markets, which provide consumers with the
highest-quality goods at competitive prices; and
WHEREAS, this General Assembly supports Tennessee farms and businesses to
provide cannabis to patients safely and efficiently by significantly limiting illegal trade and
denying special interests the opportunity to codify another de facto cartel system; and
WHEREAS, legalized medical cannabis tax revenue could support after-school and
extracurricular youth programs, mental health and substance abuse support services, law
enforcement education and impairment-recognition training, and community-based education
and workforce development programs; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

- 2 - 011465

SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall direct county election commissions to place
the following advisory ballot question on the ballot for the November general election in 2026:
Shall the State of Tennessee authorize a regulated medical cannabis program for
qualifying patients, with a portion of cannabis tax revenue dedicated to after-
school programs, mental health services, law enforcement training, and
community cannabis education?
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.