Tennessee Legislation to Legalize Personal Cannabis Cultivation Scheduled for Potential March 11 Votes in House and Senate Committees
- The bipartisan "Freedom to Farm Act," consisting of Senate Bill 2486 and House Bill 2479, would allow Tennessee adults aged 21 and older to cultivate marijuana for personal recreational use at home.
- The legislation permits registered individuals to grow up to 15 plants (with no more than five mature plants), store up to 16 ounces of dried marijuana, and requires secure, private growing conditions to prevent public visibility and access by minors.
- Registrations would cost $100 for a three-year term, and any revenue beyond program costs would fund grants for farmers’ markets throughout Tennessee.
- If passed, the act’s provisions would take effect January 1, 2027, despite marijuana currently remaining illegal for recreational use and classified as a Schedule VI controlled substance in the state.
Bipartisan Tennessee legislation that would allow adults to cultivate marijuana for personal recreational use has been scheduled for potential votes next week in both chambers of the state legislature. Senate Bill 2486 has been placed on the March 11 agenda for the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, while House Bill 2479 has been scheduled for consideration the same day by the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
The two measures form the bicameral “Freedom to Farm Act,” filed by State Senator Janice Bowling (R) and State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D). The proposal would allow adults aged 21 and older to register with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to legally grow marijuana at a private residence.
Under the legislation, individuals could obtain a three-year registration for a $100 fee. Those registered would be allowed to cultivate up to 15 marijuana plants, with no more than five in a mature stage at any given time. The plants would be required to be grown in a locked area not visible to the public.
The bill would also allow registered growers to possess up to 16 ounces of dried marijuana produced from their plants.
Several restrictions are included in the proposal. Growing, harvesting, or processing marijuana would be prohibited in the presence of minors, and growers would be required to securely store plants and harvested marijuana to prevent access by those under 21.
Any revenue generated beyond the cost of administering the program would be directed toward grants supporting farmers’ markets across Tennessee’s three grand divisions.
If enacted, most provisions of the Freedom to Farm Act would take effect January 1, 2027.
Marijuana remains illegal for recreational use in Tennessee and is currently classified as a Schedule VI controlled substance under state law. Possession can result in criminal penalties including fines and potential jail time.
The upcoming committee hearings on March 11 represent the next step for the proposal as lawmakers consider whether to advance the legislation further through the legislative process.