Tennessee Senate Bill SB2095

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to marijuana.

Summary

SB2095 would substantially increase the amount of marijuana a person may possess before triggering Tennessee’s criminal penalties. The bill amends multiple provisions in Title 39, Chapter 17 to raise the threshold from one-half ounce to five ounces for certain marijuana possession and related offense provisions. Under the bill, possession of less than five ounces of marijuana would remain unlawful, but the penalty structure would change: a first offense would be punishable by a $500 fine, and a second or subsequent offense by a $1,000 fine. The measure also preserves the existing misdemeanor classification framework in the statute, while replacing the current lower-quantity threshold with the higher five-ounce standard. The bill is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated sections 39-17-418 and 39-17-417, changing the statutory marijuana possession threshold used in criminal enforcement and penalty provisions. In practical terms, it would reduce criminal exposure for possession of amounts under five ounces by shifting the punishment for those offenses to a fine-based scheme, while leaving marijuana possession illegal under state law. The change would affect law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and individuals charged with low-level marijuana possession.

Sentiment

The available record does not include committee debate or recorded votes, so there is no direct transcript evidence of support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a reform-oriented approach to marijuana penalties, suggesting a likely intent to reduce the severity of punishment for low-level possession. However, without hearing or vote data, the overall legislative sentiment cannot be determined with certainty.

Contention

The central point of contention is likely the policy choice to raise the possession threshold from one-half ounce to five ounces, which would significantly narrow the range of conduct subject to harsher criminal penalties. Supporters would likely view the bill as a marijuana decriminalization or penalty-reduction measure aimed at lessening criminal justice consequences for minor possession. Opponents, if any, would likely object to the larger possession allowance as weakening marijuana enforcement and potentially signaling broader tolerance for cannabis use.