Election Laws

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not mention sending results to members of the general assembly, only compiling and publishing them.

Tennessee Non-Binding Marijuana Referendum

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 and publish 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, meaning they do not change any laws but provide voter opinions.
• Mandates the secretary of state to collect and publish the results of these questions on their website.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters in Tennessee who will see these questions on their ballots.
• County election commissions responsible for adding the questions to the ballot.
• The Secretary of State, who compiles and publishes the results.

Terms To Know

non-binding referendum

A vote that does not change laws but shows what voters think about an issue.

advisory referendum

A type of non-binding referendum where the results are used to advise lawmakers on public opinion.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how or if the General Assembly will use the results.
• It is unclear what happens if counties do not follow these requirements.
• There is no information about funding for implementing this referendum.

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

HOUSE BILL 1370
By Chism

SENATE BILL 960
By Lamar

SB0960
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.