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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB1603 • 2026

Drugs, Prescription

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 9; Title 24; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 57; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to medical cannabis.

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Haile, Farmer
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information on what will happen after TACIR completes its study, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Medical Cannabis Study Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to study and report on the operational readiness of state and local governmental entities to support a medical cannabis program.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires TACIR to conduct a study about creating a medical cannabis program.
  • Includes assessing how to implement such a program and if state and local governments are ready for it.
  • Allows TACIR to ask any state department or agency for help with the study.
  • Requires TACIR to report its findings by November 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)
  • State departments and agencies in Tennessee
  • Members of the Tennessee General Assembly

Terms To Know

Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)
A group that studies how state and local governments work together.
Medical cannabis program
A system allowing people to use marijuana for medical reasons.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen after the study is completed.
  • It does not provide funding for the study, assuming existing funds can be used.
  • The bill's effects depend on whether TACIR finds that Tennessee is ready to support a medical cannabis program.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1972

Plain English: House Health 1 Amendment No.

  • House Health 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1972 Terry Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1603* House Bill No.
  • 1972 HA0938 015699 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1603

Plain English: Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB1603 Gardenhire Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1603* House Bill No.
  • 1972 SA0768 015699 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  2. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  3. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  5. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 22, PNV 0

  6. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0938)

  7. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  8. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  11. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  12. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  13. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  15. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Judiciary Committee

  16. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  17. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  18. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 21, Nays 12

  20. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0768)

  21. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/31/2026

  22. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  23. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

  24. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  25. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  26. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 5, Nays 2 PNV 1

  27. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  28. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

  29. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  30. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  31. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  32. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

  33. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  34. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/10/2026

  35. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

  36. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  37. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  38. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee - Judiciary Committee

  39. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  40. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  41. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  42. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  43. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1603, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill and provides, instead, that
if marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, then the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services
is prohibited from
reschedul
ing
or delet
ing
marijuana under
state law
, unless the general assembly has established a regulatory framework for marijuana and authorized the commissioner to reschedule or delete marijuana as a controlled substance.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1972
By Farmer

SENATE BILL 1603
By Haile
SB1603
010875
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 9; Title 24; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39;
Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title
53; Title 57; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71,
relative to medical cannabis.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations
(TACIR) shall conduct a study on the creation of a medical cannabis program in this state. The
study must include:
(1) The process for implementing a medical cannabis program; and
(2) The operational readiness of state and local governmental entities to support
a medical marijuana program.
SECTION 2. All appropriate state departments and agencies shall provide assistance to
TACIR in connection with the study required in subsection (a) upon the request of the executive
director of TACIR.
SECTION 3. On or before November 1, 2026, TACIR shall report its findings to
members of the general assembly.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.