Tennessee Medical Marijuana Card

Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Tennessee?

No, medical marijuana is not legal in Tennessee. The state has some of the severest penalties for marijuana possession in the United States, as possession of the substance is considered a criminal offense. However, Memphis and Nashville, the two largest cities in the State of Tennessee, have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Several efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Tennessee in the past were unsuccessful. Some of these efforts included HB 1968 (Free All Cannabis For Tennesseans Act) and SB 0854 (Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act).

Although Tennessee does not have a medical marijuana program, it allows residents to use low-THC/high-CBD oils without the infrastructure to provide access to residents who need them. In 2021, SB 118 was signed into law in Tennessee to expand the state's limited low-THC oil access law. Although this law does not provide for THC oil in-state production, it permits qualifying patients to possess and use low-THC oil whose THC content does not exceed 0.9%. According to SB 118, a medical marijuana program may not operate in Tennessee until cannabis is removed from the Schedule I Drugs list of the federal Controlled Substance Act.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Tennessee in 2024

Medical cannabis is illegal in Tennessee. The state's high-CBD/low-THC program has no regulatory structure and does not issue identification cards for enrolled patients.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Tennessee

Currently, no individual in Tennessee in 2024 can get medical marijuana as medical cannabis is still legally prohibited. However, SB 118 permits qualifying patients and other residents who need it to possess and use low-THC/high-CBD oil to treat certain medical conditions. However, they can only get low-THC oil out of state as no infrastructure exists for its (low-THC oil) production within the state. The qualifying medical conditions for low-THC/high-CBD oil in Tennessee include:

• Epilepsy
• Cancer, if treatment leads to wasting illness, pain, or nausea or if diagnosed as end-stage
• HIV/AIDS
• Parkinson's disease
• Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Can I Apply For A Medical Marijuana Card In Tennessee Online?

No, medical marijuana has not been legalized in Tennessee.

Do I Need To Be A Tennessee Resident To Get A Medical Marijuana Card?

Currently, no individual can get a medical marijuana card in Tennessee. Medical cannabis is illegal in the state.

What Is The Cost Of A Tennessee Medical Marijuana Card?

The State of Tennessee will advise the public about the cost of its medical marijuana card when it establishes a medical marijuana program. Medical marijuana is still illegal in the state.

What Do You Need When Visiting A Medical Marijuana Dispensary In Tennessee?

Because of the illegality of medical marijuana in the state, Tennessee does not have any licensed dispensaries for medical cannabis. However, in states with established medical marijuana programs, qualifying patients must carry their state-issued medical marijuana cards and, sometimes, valid government-issued IDs when visiting medical marijuana dispensaries.

Who Can Prescribe Medical Marijuana In Tennessee?

Tennessee does not have a medical marijuana program. The limited low-THC/high-CBD program under SB 118 does not have a state-backed infrastructure. As a result, qualifying patients and others who need low-THC oil do not require doctors' recommendations before using it (low-THC oil). Qualifying patients can always get low-THC oil from outside Tennessee without seeing a doctor.

Can A Minor Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Tennessee?

Just like everyone else in Tennessee, minors cannot obtain medical marijuana cards as the state has yet to legalize medical cannabis and does not have an established medical marijuana program. However, like other states with medical marijuana programs, patients who are minors in Tennessee would most likely need their parents' or legal guardians' consent to get a medical marijuana card when the state legalizes medical cannabis. They may also need to obtain a doctor's recommendation.

Can You Get A Medical Marijuana Card At 18 In Tennessee?

No. Tennessee does not issue medical marijuana cards to minors or adults. The state has no medical marijuana program. Therefore, minors using low-THC CBD oil in Tennessee will not get medical marijuan cards when they turn 18.

How To Renew Your Tennessee Medical Marijuana Card

There is no established path for applying for or renewing a medical marijuana card in Tennessee due to the illegal status of medical cannabis in the state.

Can You Grow Medical Marijuana In Tennessee?

No. Medical marijuana cultivation in Tennessee for either personal or commercial purposes is illegal. Medical cannabis is still illegal in the state, with harsh penalties on even possessing small amounts of the substance. Cultivating marijuana in Tennessee is a Class E Felony punishable by a minimum mandatory jail sentence of 1 year and a fine of $5,000. Depending on the number of marijuana plants grown, a person may face up to six years in prison if caught cultivating cannabis in Tennessee.

Does Tennessee Allow Medical Marijuana Patients To Designate Caregivers?

Tennessee does not operate a medical marijuana program due to the ban on medical cannabis, and as such, the state has no provision for medical marijuana caregivers. The state's low-THC/high-CBD oil program is limited, unstructured, and makes no provisions for a caregiver.

A caregiver is a person who is designated to assist a medical marijuana patient with their medical cannabis needs. Typically, they help minors, severely ill, or disabled patients who may find it challenging to access marijuana or visit dispensaries for medical cannabis supplies. In most states with medical marijuana programs, caregivers are designated by the patient. Some of these states permit caregivers to care for multiple patients, but it is unusual for a patient to have more than one caregiver. The following are some of the responsibilities of a caregiver, depending on the state:

• Administering medical cannabis to patients
• Purchasing medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries on behalf of their patients
• Cultivating cannabis for their patients only (for states that allow home-grown cannabis for medical purposes)

Generally, a person must be at least 21 years old to qualify as a medical marijuana caregiver and should be resident in the state where they intend to serve as a caregiver. Most states require them to submit to a criminal history background check to ensure they have not been convicted of a drug-related criminal offense within a specified time before applying as a caregiver.

Tennessee Medical Marijuana Reciprocity

Tennessee has no medical marijuana reciprocity. The use or sale of medical cannabis remains illegal in the state.

Are My Medical Marijuana Records Private?

Generally, medical marijuana records are meant to be private records and should not be indiscriminately disclosed to unauthorized persons or entities. Although medical cannabis is illegal in Tennessee, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that all medical records, including patients' medical cannabis records, be kept private. However, employers and law enforcement agencies may be able to access some information in patients' medical records in certain circumstances, as outlined in the HIPAA Privacy Rules.

Does Insurance Cover Medical Marijuana In Tennessee?

Medical cannabis has yet to be legalized in Tennessee, but generally, health insurance does not cover medical marijuana.

What Is The Medical Card Limit In Tennessee?

Tennessee does not issue medical marijuana cards, as medical cannabis remains prohibited in the state.

Can You Go To A Dispensary Without A Medical Card In Tennessee?

There are no medical marijuana dispensaries in Tennessee, and the sale of medical cannabis is illegal in the state.