Senate Bill 809, sponsored by Yarbro, seeks to establish the "Tennessee Cannabis Act," which introduces a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of cannabis in Tennessee. The bill defines key terms related to cannabis, such as "Adult," "Cannabis," and "Advertising," and outlines regulations for personal use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. It allows adults to possess up to sixty grams of marijuana and cultivate up to twelve plants, while also permitting the transfer of marijuana between adults without remuneration. The legislation emphasizes safety through child-resistant packaging and sets forth licensing requirements for marijuana establishments, prioritizing disadvantaged and veteran-owned businesses.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to remove specific marijuana possession thresholds and updates regulations surrounding marijuana-related offenses. It introduces provisions to prevent adverse actions against healthcare practitioners based solely on positive THC-COOH tests and mandates the Department of Correction to review records of individuals incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses for potential immediate release. The bill also imposes a 15% marijuana tax on sales and allows local governments to impose a sales tax of up to 5%. Overall, the legislation aims to create a structured and compliant legal framework for the cannabis industry in Tennessee while addressing public safety and the needs of consumers and patients.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4-3-610(a), 4-3-610, 4-7-115, 29-38-104, 38-6-108, 39-17-402(12), 39-17-402, 39-17-415(a), 39-17-415, 39-17-417, 39-17-418, 39-17-428(b), 39-17-428, 40-32-101(g)(1), 40-32-101, 41-1-118, 67-4-2802, 67-4-2803, 67-4-2804, 71-3-1201(4), 71-3-1201, 63-1-126