AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to a ballot question.
Summary
SB1165 would require each county election commission in Tennessee to place a statewide advisory question on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether the state should legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical marijuana. The measure does not itself legalize medical marijuana or create a regulatory program; instead, it creates a public policy opinion poll to gauge voter sentiment on the issue.
After the election, the secretary of state would compile the results and send them to each member of the General Assembly. The bill expressly states that the outcome is not binding on lawmakers, so the vote would serve only as guidance or political feedback rather than a direct change in law.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee election law in Title 2 by requiring county election commissions to print a specific advisory question on the November 2026 ballot and by assigning the secretary of state the duty to collect and distribute the results. It would not change Tennessee’s marijuana laws, criminal statutes, or medical cannabis policy directly, but it could influence future legislative action by formally measuring statewide public opinion on medical marijuana legalization.
Sentiment
Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be framed as a neutral, informational measure rather than a substantive legalization proposal. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented legislative debate or vote history to indicate support or opposition. The overall posture of the bill is therefore best characterized as procedural and exploratory, aimed at gathering voter input on a controversial policy issue.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the underlying policy question of whether Tennessee should legalize medical marijuana, since the bill places that issue before voters in an advisory form. Supporters would likely view the measure as a way to measure public sentiment and inform lawmakers, while opponents may object to using the ballot for a nonbinding opinion poll or to the broader prospect of marijuana legalization. Because the bill is nonbinding, another possible point of debate is whether it meaningfully advances policy or merely signals political interest without requiring legislative action.