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SB2097 • 2026

Election Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to medical cannabis.

Elections Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Hurt
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Medical Cannabis Ballot Question

This bill requires Tennessee's secretary of state to add a ballot question about legalizing medical cannabis for the November 2026 election.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the secretary of state to direct each county election commission to put a specific question on the ballot for the November 2026 general election.
  • The ballot question asks voters if Tennessee should legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical cannabis.
  • Voters can answer 'YES' or 'NO' to this question.
  • After the election, the secretary of state must compile the results and send them to each member of the General Assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The people voting in Tennessee's November 2026 general election
  • County election commissions across Tennessee

Terms To Know

General Assembly
The state legislature of Tennessee, made up of the House and Senate.
Secretary of State
A high-ranking official in Tennessee who oversees elections and other duties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The results of the ballot question do not force the General Assembly to take any action.
  • It does not specify what happens if voters approve medical cannabis legalization.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  3. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  7. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  10. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  11. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  13. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  15. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2238
By Hurt

SENATE BILL 2097
By Akbari
SB2097
012120
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to medical cannabis.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) The secretary of state shall direct each county election commission to
include on the ballot for the November general election in 2026 the following question:
Should the State of Tennessee legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical
cannabis?
(b) The ballot question must include a mechanism by which a voter may answer
the question by selecting "YES" or "NO."
(c) The secretary of state shall compile the results of the ballot question and
submit the results to each member of the general assembly.
(d) The results of the ballot question are not binding on the general assembly.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.