Tennessee Statewide Rule
Tennessee Marijuana Dispensary Prohibition Statewide
Key Facts
- Recreational Sales
- Prohibited statewide
- Medical Dispensaries
- None authorized
- Hemp Products
- Separate ABC-licensed program
- Local Authority
- Cannot authorize sales
Summary
Because Tennessee prohibits marijuana sale and distribution, no recreational or full medical dispensaries may legally operate, and municipalities cannot authorize dispensary land uses through zoning.
It is an offense for a defendant to knowingly: (1) Manufacture a controlled substance; (2) Deliver a controlled substance; (3) Sell a controlled substance; or (4) Possess a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell the controlled substance.
Full Breakdown
Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-17-417 criminalizes the sale and delivery of marijuana, and Tennessee has not enacted a regulated dispensary licensing program. The limited medical cannabis oil framework in Tenn. Code 39-17-402 permits only low-THC products dispensed through narrow channels, not retail dispensaries. Municipal zoning cannot authorize dispensary operations because the underlying activity remains a state and federal crime. Hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC fall under Alcoholic Beverage Commission licensing (Tenn. Code Title 57, Chapter 7, effective January 1, 2026) and are regulated separately.
Violations & Penalties
Operating an unlicensed marijuana dispensary constitutes felony manufacture and sale, exposing operators to multi-year prison sentences and asset forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Tennessee city license a marijuana dispensary?
Are CBD or hemp shops legal in Tennessee?
Sources
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