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House passes bill to widen Medical Cannabis Commission membership and allow policy recommendations
Summary
The Tennessee House approved Senate Bill 299 on third reading to expand eligibility to serve on the Medical Cannabis Commission and clarify that the commission may offer policy recommendations; sponsors said the changes address chronic quorum problems and prepare the state for possible federal rescheduling. Vote recorded 82–2.
The Tennessee House on third and final reading approved Senate Bill 299, a measure that changes how the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission is constituted and what the commission may recommend. Chairman Jim Terry, the bill sponsor, said the changes would ease longstanding quorum problems and allow caregivers to serve on the commission, while explicitly authorizing the commission to make policy recommendations if federal rescheduling occurs.
"We're just trying to decrease the barriers in order to get people on the commission," Chairman Terry said, explaining that requiring representation from each grand division has made it difficult to reach quorum for meetings. He said the bill also ensures the commission can advise state agencies should the federal schedule change.
Democratic Leader Luther Camper asked whether removing the grand-division requirement risks uneven geographic representation. Terry replied the change is intended to reduce practical barriers to forming a quorum while preserving the ability for qualified appointees from across the state to serve.
Sponsors and supporters framed the bill as preparatory: federal action on cannabis classification could create a need for the state to move quickly on rules, research and potential regulation. "If medical cannabis were to be rescheduled this year, we would need to pass legislation in 2026 to give direction," Terry said.
The House recorded the vote 82–2 in favor. The bill now moves forward consistent with the legislative calendar for enrollment and any additional steps required before it becomes law.
