Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee Schedules Hearing and Potential Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
- A bill has been filed in the Senate to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivation of up to five plants for those 21 and older.
- Local governments would have the authority to impose civil penalties for public marijuana possession, but not criminal penalties.
- Non-commercial exchanges of marijuana would be allowed without legal consequences, as long as no money or valuables are involved.
- The bill also proposes raising the threshold for felony marijuana possession and reducing penalties for possession of one-half ounce to one ounce.
The bill, filed on February 5 and advanced through its second reading in the Senate the following week, would decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and the cultivation of up to five marijuana plants, for those 21 and older.
The proposed law grants local governments the power to impose civil penalties for marijuana possession in public places, but does not allow them to institute criminal penalties. SB 923 would also allow non-commercial exchanges without legal consequences, as long as no money or valuables are involved. Additionally, the bill proposes raising the threshold for felony marijuana possession, reducing penalties for those caught with between one-half ounce and one ounce.
Under current law, any amount of marijuana possession is a potential misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
The March 31 hearing will allow lawmakers and the public to give their input on the proposal. Although a vote may follow the hearing, it’s also possible the committee could delay any action.