How Do I Get a Tennessee Medical Marijuana Card?
Find a Doctor Licensed to Practice in Tennessee
Even though you don’t receive medical marijuana in the end, you must still complete the same process as you would with a standard MMJ program. This means finding a licensed physician to provide a written certification. There is no directory of cannabis-friendly doctors in TN, so it could take a while to find out. Alternatively, contact the MMJCardOnline team and allow us to help!
Schedule a Consultation
Once you find a suitable physician, please book an appointment and discuss your potential use of low-THC oil with them. Bring your medical records and be prepared to answer various questions on the utility of low-THC oil for your condition. If the physician agrees that a slightly higher amount of THC could help you, they will provide a written recommendation. They only give you the certification if they agree that conventional treatments have proven ineffective in treating your condition.
Buy Low-THC Oil
In Tennessee, there is no online application to complete. Once you have the doctor’s recommendation, you can visit a dispensary. However, there is one slight problem; you can only buy CBD oil with more than 0.3% THC (and less than 0.9%) outside the state.
Therefore, you may decide that it isn’t worth the extra effort for what amounts to a small THC increase. Nonetheless, many of our clients have suggested that the additional THC makes a difference. So, if you want to proceed, allow the experts at MMJCardOnline to help you!
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Tennessee
- A Step-by-Step Guide
- Check the state’s qualifying conditions to see if you’re eligible
- Find a doctor willing to provide a written recommendation
- Schedule a consultation and discuss your possible use of low-THC oil with the physician
- Visit an out-of-state dispensary once you receive the doctor’s approval
Tennessee Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
To get a medical marijuana card in TN, you must tick the following boxes:
- Be aged 18+
- Be a Tennessee resident
- Have a qualifying medical condition
- Be prepared to leave the state to buy low-THC oil
Patient Qualifying Conditions
Until a few years ago, only patients with epilepsy were eligible for low-THC oil in Tennessee. However, since May 2021, you could be eligible for a TN medical card if you have one of the following qualifying conditions:
- ALS
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Sickle cell disease
- MS
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer if the treatment results in side effects such as wasting, vomiting, pain, or nausea, or else the cancer is end-stage
General Guidelines
The most difficult aspect of the medical card process is the lack of access to low-THC oil. Earning a doctor’s approval is relatively easy, but you must jump through plenty of hoops thereafter. In any case, here is some useful additional information regarding the low-THC oil program in TN.
Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in Tennessee
The physician’s certification is only valid for six months. At this point, you have to visit a doctor and go through the process once again.
Caregiver Rules
There are no specific rules surrounding caregivers in Tennessee. Certainly, minors require a parent or legal guardian to act on their behalf, but state laws say nothing about caregivers for adults.
A Brief History of Cannabis in Tennessee
Tennessee remains one of the dwindling number of states in America that doesn’t have a proper medical marijuana program. SB 280, signed into law in 2015, was the state’s first attempt at offering something resembling MMJ. However, it made no provisions for patients to access the substance. Instead, it only allowed people with certain medical conditions to buy CBD oil.
In 2016, HB 2144 permitted patients to use CBD oil with a maximum THC content of 0.9% if they had a written recommendation from a physician in TN. However, it was only in 2021 that the state slightly expanded its list of qualifying conditions.
A Republican-sponsored MMJ bill was rejected in the Senate in February 2023. Realistically, Tennessee will not have a proper medical marijuana program until 2024 at the earliest.
Tennessee Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
With no MMJ program in place and no decriminalization of the substance, you can expect severe penalties for marijuana purchase, possession, cultivation, and use. For example, possessing any amount is a misdemeanor with a jail term of up to one year if you’re found guilty.
The sale of half an ounce or more is a felony with a possible six-year prison sentence as the penalty. The punishment is similar if you’re caught growing a single plant.
In July 2020, Nashville partially decriminalized the possession of marijuana. The district attorney now drops all charges when an individual is caught in possession of under 14 grams.
What Types of Cannabis Products Can I Purchase in TN?
It is only possible to buy low-THC CBD oil with a doctor’s approval. The THC content can’t exceed 0.9%.
How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?
No legal limit exists on how much low-THC CBD oil a qualifying patient can buy.
Where Can I LEGALLY Purchase MMJ in Tennessee?
You can only buy CBD oil with a maximum THC content of 0.9% outside TN! If you want CBD oil within the state, the maximum permitted THC content is 0.3%, and you don’t need a physician’s recommendation.
A restaurant called Buds & Brews, located in Nashville, sells cannabis-infused drinks and sauces containing a maximum of 5mg THC. The THC comes from hemp, but the products are only available to individuals aged 21+. The good news is that you don’t need a doctor’s certification to buy them.
Can I Take My MMJ to a Different State?
No. One of Tennessee residents’ biggest problems is that they can’t transport their low-THC oil across state lines. Even if you find a legal product outside TN, it is a federal crime to bring it home.
Can I Grow Marijuana in Tennessee?
No. It is a felony to grow marijuana in TN.
FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in Tennessee
Since you only need a doctor’s approval, you can receive the recommendation the same day you apply.
If a physician doesn’t approve you, MMJCardOnline will fully refund you. In this instance, it is best to look for standard CBD oil instead.
You don’t have to pay an application fee, but the consultation can cost up to $200. Contact us to see if we can save you some money!