Rep. Jason Powell (D) of Tennessee is urging Gov. Bill Lee (R) and legislative leaders to convene a special session to establish a state medical cannabis framework, as federal marijuana rescheduling advances under the Trump administration.
“For years, Tennesseans have been told to wait,” Powell said in a press release. “We created a commission. We studied the issue. We have heard from patients, doctors and families across this state. At some point, we have to be willing to act.”
With the legislature set to adjourn this week, Powell argued that if Lee declines to act, members of the General Assembly should call the session themselves. He framed the push as focused on compassionate care for veterans, cancer patients, and others who could benefit from a regulated medical option—not recreational use. Powell has previously sponsored legislation to place a nonbinding cannabis reform question on the ballot.
The call comes after the legislature voted earlier this month to send Gov. Lee HB1972 and companion SB1603, which block an automatic state review that federal reclassification would otherwise trigger. Under existing Tennessee law, federal reclassification of a controlled substance prompts a review by the state commissioner of health and the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services. The bills would bar that automatic review from applying to cannabis unless the General Assembly first establishes a regulatory framework and explicitly authorizes the commissioners to act.
Last month, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R) signaled openness to reform, saying the federal move to shift cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act could remove state-level obstacles. “My biggest objections are being resolved by the federal government right now in rescheduling cannabis and rescheduling specifically marijuana and allowing the doctors to take over and make a determination on how and if these substances could be helpful,” Lamberth said.
Bipartisan discussions gained momentum after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December directing officials to finalize the rescheduling process. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) called rescheduling a “first step” toward medical cannabis reform in Tennessee but cited unresolved implementation questions. “There will have to be conversations about who manufactures it, who tests it, who distributes, which medical illness could it be used for, does this require [federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA] approval and a host of other questions,” Sexton said.
