TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Apr 28, 2026

Following federal reclassification of marijuana as a less dangerous drug, Tennessee state Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, urged Gov. Bill Lee to call a special legislative session to consider legalizing medical cannabis, arguing that years of study and broad public support — surveys show that 81% of Tennesseans favor the move — make further delay unjustifiable. Powell framed the issue as one of compassionate care for veterans, cancer patients and other suffering Tennesseans, noting that 40 states already have established medical marijuana programs. Republican lawmakers recently voted to block an automatic state review that federal reclassification would have triggered, expressing concern about moving too quickly on cannabis policy. Marijuana possession remains a crime in Tennessee. According to the Tennessean, some Republicans have signaled openness to change as federal rescheduling shifts oversight toward doctors.