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SB1768 • 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
Lamar, Freeman
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify what happens if the ballot question is approved or rejected.

Medical Cannabis Ballot Question for Tennessee

This bill requires the Secretary of State to put an advisory ballot question on the November 2026 election asking if Tennessee should authorize a regulated medical cannabis program.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Secretary of State to add a specific question about medical cannabis to the 2026 election ballot.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who will see the ballot question in November 2026

Terms To Know

Regulated Medical Cannabis Program
A system where patients can legally get and use medical marijuana with rules to keep everyone safe.
Advisory Ballot Question
A question on a ballot that asks voters for their opinion but does not make a law if they say yes or no.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only puts the question on the ballot; it doesn't create laws about medical cannabis.
  • It's unclear how many people will vote 'yes' or 'no'.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  3. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee

  4. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  7. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  8. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Health Committee

  10. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  12. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  13. 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 
HOUSE BILL 1774
By Freeman

SENATE BILL 1768
By Lamar
SB1768
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.