Legalize Cannabis 2026 Midterms Early voting begins OCTOBER 14th 2018 Farm Bill Who is runing in the midterms? How can we legalize THC? How to Vote Federal Pro-Legalization Canidates State Pro-Legalization Canidates   2026 PRO-HEMP TN BALLOT GUIDE   WHO’S RUNNING IN THE MIDTERMS? FEDERAL VS. STATE ELECTIONS This year the MIDTERM elections are taking place. Every two years, state and federal HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES holds elections. State and federal SENATORS run for office every six years, those terms are staggered so some districts will be electing new state and federal senators, others are not. While the federal executive branch (President) is not holding elections this year, our state execytive branch (Governor) is holding elections. TENNESSEE GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BRANCH - GOVERNOR STATE SENATE- DISTRICTS WITH ODD NUMBERS:1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33 STATE HOUSE- ALL 99 HOUSE DISTRICTS   = WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STATE ELECTIONS OR LAW   FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FEDERAL SENATE- WE ARE ELECTING ONE OF OUR TWO FEDERAL SENATORS (EVERY STATE HAS 2) FEDERAL HOUSE- ALL 9 HOUSE DISTRICTS = WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL ELECTIONS OR LAW     FARM BILL, 2018 STATE AND FEDERAL MOVING TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE.   The farm bill that passed federally in 2018 created a loophole that defined "illegal" hemp by dry weight delta-9 content. Since THC-A (raw flower sold at an earlier stage of processing) converts to THC/delta-9 when heated, the bill created a federal legal loophole. That is why, from 2018–2026, a robust, multi-million-dollar industry rose up in TN and other states that had previously outlawed and criminalized the sale and possession of intoxicating hemp. In 2019, the TN Department of Agriculture created a licensing pathway for businesses, and established a statewide tax on hemp in 2023. The state estimates it has lost around $54 million in anticipated hemp tax revenue in 2026. In 2025, legislation set to close the loophole passed, but was put on hold due to an injunction. In January 2026, the state legislature successfully passed legislation that fully closed the loophole. Retailers and distributors in the state were permitted to continue selling THC-A and other intoxicating hemp products until July 1, 2026. In November, the federal loophole will close due to a law passed via a government funding measure passed by Congress in 2025. Meaning it would return to the states to decide legal status of hemp products.   HOW CAN WE LEGALIZE THC?   PATHWAY TO LEGALIZE HEMP In order to repeal (undo) a bill that the state legislator passed, another bill must be introduced by a sitting state congressperson that explicitly repeals the existing law. Citizens may submit requests to appeal certain laws to The Office of Repealer, but those submissions are not enacted by the office. They are included in a report making suggestions to legislators. THIS IS WHY STATE ELECTIONS MATTER. Sen, Heidi Campbell   Rep. Afytn Behn   Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, and Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, are re-introduing their Pot For Potholes bill in the 2027 legislative session. This bill would FULLY LEGALIZE marijuanna recreationally for anyone 21+ and use the tax revenue to start chipping away at the $50 BILLION backlog of infrastructure projects in TN. SIGN THE PETITION TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE POT FOR POTHOLES BILL. If we want to pass a bill like Pot For Potholes in the STATE of TN, this will require electing several new members to state house, state senate, and the governor's office. If we want to create a FEDERAL legal standard, this will require us to elect pro-hemp CONGRESSIONAL candidates and a pro-hemp federal senator. While this guide is not a partisan voting guide, on a STATE level the Republican Coalition is not in favor of recreationally legalizing cannabis. Sometimes Republicans running for FEDERAL office are in favor of recreational or medical cannabis programs. Democratic candidates, while not always, are usually more likely to be in favor of passing recreational or medical cannabis laws with strong regulatory frameworks and licensing programs. That is why you may see more Democrats on this guide than Republicans. TENNESSEE GOVERNMENT Pot For Potholes, to be re-introduced in the 2027 lesislative session. Needs to pass state house and senate before becoming law.   FEDERAL GOVERNMENT • Declassification from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 • H.R. 7024 / S. 3686 - Hemp Planting Predictability act ○ Pushes off changes to hemp classification by 2 years • H.R. 7212 - Griffith Bill ○ Creates regulation framework and gives FDA to create a proper federal hemp classification • S. 3474 - Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act ○ Federal framework ○ 5mg THC per serving/50mg per package for edibles, topicals, and inhalables, and 5mg per serving/10mg per package for beverages. HOW TO VOTE REGISTRATION, FIND YOUR DISTRICT, EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS , ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS   REGISTER TO VOTE DEADLINE: Monday, October 5, 2026 • Register Online • Register by Mail (Print Application and Mail to County Election Commission Office • Register in person at your local County Election Commussion Office • Applications can be found online or in person at: ○ County Election Commission Offices ○ County Clerk’s Offices ○ Public Libraries ○ Register of Deeds Offices       FIND YOUR DISTRICT Look up your State Senate. State House, and Federal Congress district. Simply put your address into tbe search.   When you recieve your voter registration confirmation your voting districts are listed at the bottom.     EARLY VOTING Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 29, 2026 Click Here to look up your county’s early voting locations MAIL IN/ABSENTEE VOTING Click here to see if your are eligible to vote by mail. If eligible, ballots may be requested up to 10 days before the election. Mail in ballots ELECTION DAY Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 Click here to look up your polling location by address.   FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES SENATOR RACE Marquita Bradshaw (D) “I support the full legalization of recreational marijuana. We need to lead TN in this industry that can not only help our economy, but also begin to give black and brown Tennesseans entrepreneurship, alongside redtorative justice to those who have been impacted by our outdated and predatory drug laws.”     FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 1 - Kristi Burke (D) ​”Legalization isn't some radical proposal. it's a no-brainer for Tennesseeans. Cannabis is significantly lower risk than substances that are already legal and regulated. If we legalized and taxed it, we’re talking about millions in revenue that could be going toward our crumbling roads.”   DISTRICT 3 - Anna Golladay (D) “It is time we keep working Tennesseans out of the criminal justice system over a plant that's already legal across most of the country. The potential tax revenue and small-business opportunity cannot be ignored.”   DISTRICT 4 - Victoria Broderick (D) “I will fight to deschedule marijuana at the federal level and end federal penalties for simple possession. Legalization also allows law enforcement to focus its resources on serious threats to public safety instead of low-level drug enforcement, and it opens the door to real tax revenue that can go toward public services.”   District 6 - Mike Croley (D) “States with legal cannabis have already generated billions in tax revenue. This industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs through cultivation, processing, retail, testing, and construction. These legal markets create genuine opportunities for small businesses and farmers.”.   District 7 - Darden Copeland (D) “I support moving cannabis to Schedule III under federal law to allow research, banking, and reduced criminal penalties. I’m for full medical use with clear qualifying conditions. But I’m not ready for outright national legalization for recreational purposes until I have more information or we study it more.”   *Any districts missing in this section indicates a lack of a public facing cannabis policy. Any requests to add a candidate, amend a statement, or clarify information, please send to the email listed in the ABOUT THE AUTHOR section of this voting guide.     STATE REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNORS RACE Jerri Green - Democrat SUPPORTS RECREATIONAL LEGALIZATION Supports the Pot for Potholes bill. Plans to sign that into law if it hits her desk as the Governor. Senator Heidi Campbell and Representative Aftyn Behn’s Pot for Potholes Act would inject $270 million annually into Tennessee’s massive infrastructure backlog while providing a lucrative new cash crop for tariff-squeezed local farmer.   Lauren Pinkston - Independant SUPPORTS MEDICAL LEGALIZATION Seven of Tennessee's eight border states already have programs that have legalized the regulated sale of medical cannabis, and Tennessee is missing out on this tax revenue. Clear regulations will protect consumers while reducing unnecessary enforcement burdens on law enforcement. On recreational legalization, Lauren wants to see a well-run medical program work and let the evidence guide the next steps.   STATE REPRESENTATIVES Click here to find out your state SENATE and HOUSE district by looking up your home address. If you have your voter registration confirmation, there is a box at the bottom that will tell you what distrtics you are voting for. Pro-Hemp State Senators If your district is not listed, that means niether candidate has made their hemp policy public, OR they are NOT in support of hemp legaliztion. I asked all candidates without a published cannabis policy directly what they’re stance was. If there was a published policy, or a candidate was an incumbant that voted to close the Farm Bill Loophole, I did not attempt to contact. If you are a candidate or member of their team and would like to include a candiadate’s stance or amend the stance I have listed, please contact me directly. District 7: Bryan Langan (D) - Legalize and Tax the Sale of Cannabis District 11: Tim Roberts (D) - Legalization of Medical and Recreational Marijuana. District 13: Angela Evans Wynn (D) - Supports Pot for Potholes bill and Legalization of Recreational Marijuana. District 17: Lindsey Patrick-Wright (D) - Spoke with candidate directly, responded to direct message very quickly. STRONG supporter of legalizing cannabis recreationally. Opposes recent ban due to economic loss and harm to local farmers. Very friendly and approachable. District 21: Jeff Yarbo (D) - Supports medical use District 29: Raumesh Akbari (D): Supports medical use District 33: London Lamar (D): Supports legalization of Medical and Recreational Marijuana. Pro-Hemp State House of Representative If your district is not listed, that means niether candidate has made their hemp policy public, OR they are NOT in support of hemp legaliztion. I asked all candidates without a published cannabis policy directly what they’re stance was. If there was a published policy, or a candidate was an incumbant that voted to close the Farm Bill Loophole, I did not attempt to contact. If you are a candidate or member of their team and would like to include a candiadate’s stance or amend the stance I have listed, please contact me directly. District 3: Lori Love (D) - I spoke to Lori Love directly, she answered her phone after only a few short rings. She is for recreational legalization and expressed direct support for the Pot for Potholes bill. Very friendly and approachable. District 7: Sarah Jayne Della Vecchia (D) - Supports Recreational and Medical Legalization. District 13: Brett Windrow (D): Supports allowing counties to cast votes to decide on legalization. District 28: Yusef Hakeem (D): Incumbent, voted against the current ban. Spoke with staffer, would support P4P bill. District 30: Art Rymer (D): Supports recreationally legalizing cannabis. District 32: Ali Simpson (D): Legalize and deregulate marijuana use and cultivation. District 33: Anne Backus (D): Supports Pot for Potholes bill. Spoke to candidate directly, quick to answer phone. District 34: Owen Farnsworth (D) - Fully supports recreational legalization. Spoke to candidate directly, answered their phone quickly. District 37: Mary Anne Young (D): Spoke to candiate directly, called me back by EOD. 100% in support, believes we are missing out on revenue for the state of TN. District 40: Daniel Hawthorne (D)- FOR the legalization of Marijuana in this state. Wants this to help farmers in the eastern part of our State who have been hurting for a Cash Crop for over 20 years since Big Tobacco went away. District 45: Mandy Cook (D): Believes in legalizing and regulating cannabis in the state of Tennessee. She believes it’s long past time to stop criminalizing marijuana – and start capitalizing on it. District 48: Matt Ferry (D): Supports recreational and medical legalization of cannabis. Responded to me directly in a timely manner, very friendly and approachable! District 51: Afytn Behn (D): House sponsor for Pot for Potholes bill! District 52: Justin Jones (D): Supports recreational legalizations, supports P4P bill. Michelle Vetter (R): Does NOT support P4P bill, but does support medical. Believes an individual should be allowed a certain amount for personal use/consumption to be cultivated by themselves on private, personal property that is not next to any church, school, or child related facility, service or business. District 53: Jason Powell (D): Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 54: Vinent Dixie (D): Supports legalization of recreational cannabis. District 55: John Ray Clemmons (D): Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 56: Bob Freeman (D): Support legalization of recreational cannabis. District 57: Matt Burchfield (D): (Candidate shared statement directly) “I support the proposed Pot4Potholes plan. 15% might be a bit high for the tax hit on consumers. Though it's probably in line with what alcohol taxes end up being if you purchase a cocktail in Nashville city-limits for example. I do support medical and recreational legalization. States like Massachusetts and Colorado have given us roadmaps on how to do it safely.” Very friendly and approachable. District 58: Howard Love (D): Suports medical legalization of cannabis. District 59: Mark Proctor (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 60: Shaundelle Brooks (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 65: Julian Pierre-Griffin (D)- (Candiate shared custom statement over email directly) "Personally, I support the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational use. I believe people should have access to it if it can help improve their health, and I also think adults should be free to make responsible choices about recreational use. With proper regulation, legalization can promote safety, quality control, and informed use." District 67: Ronnie Glynn (D)- Supports recreational legalization of cannabis District 67: Ronnie Glynn (D)- Supports recreational legalization of cannabis District 75: Allie Philips (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. Candidate responded to email within 24 hours. District 78: Hillary Capes-Gwinn (D): Spoke with candiate directly, responded quickly. Full support for legalization of recreational cannabis District 80: Julian McTizic (R)- Spoke to candidate directly over the phone, answered quickly. Candidate is hesitant to legalize cannabis reaccreationally, but would support a medical cannabis system. Unsure about P4P bill. District 85: Jesse Chism (D)- Supports recreational legalization of cannabis. District 87: Karen Camper (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 88: Larry Miller (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 90: Gloria Johnson (D)- Supports recreational legalization of cannabis. District 91: Torrey Harris (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. District 97: Jesse Huseth (D)- Supports recreational legalization of cannabis. District 98: Antonio Parkinson (D)- Supports medical legalization of cannabis. (List may change/update as candidates respond to inquiry) SOURCES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_loophole https://tnfarmbureau.org/hemp-in-tennessee-where-are-we https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/20/tennessee-hemp-tax-revenue-thca-restrictions/91367685007/ https://www.capitol.tn.gov/joint/staff/legal/repealer.html https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SB2440 https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tenn-lawmakers-relaunch-pot-for-potholes-marijuana-legalization-push https://natlawreview.com/article/30-days-clock-what-federal-hemp-ban-delay-really-means-industry https://vote.norml.org/states/TN About The Author   CONTACT: sky.stahlmann@gmail.com In 2022, I suffered a severe case of septic shock from an advanced kidney infection the same week I had been referred to a genetist due to signs of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The infection worsened the connective tissue disorder I was formaly diagnosed with early 2023 alongside my two younger sisters. I went from being a highly productive business owner and recording artist with a budding career, to being bedridden for several months. I lost everything to chronic pain and severe symptoms that landed me in the emergency room on a monthly basis. As someone that lives with severe chronic pain, I can personally attest to the relief that THC provides. When I moved to TN permanently in late summer 2023, I quickly burned through the lining of my stomach taking over the counter pain medications and sought out something similar to the medical grade cannabis I was used to when I lived in MA, CA and FL. I found a local distributor in the Hermitage area that offered high quality THC-A and distributed their in house products all over the state under legally under the previous liscensure framework. I began working there part time in early 2025, and witnessed a thriving black owned business suffer. The establishment employed folks like me that struggled to get decent work in the area. When the ban went into effect my heart broke watching these folks just trying to make ends meet be put back into a position of uncertainty. In 2024, I was working as a early childhood educator while I tried to claw back the shattered and scattered pieces of my life. I had to quit my job at the time due to my symptoms worsening. Unfortunately, I fell through the cracks of society’s safety net and had no assistance to rely in this hard time. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a part of the solving the problem. Shortly after leaving that job the Congressional campaign I was volunteering for offered me a paid position. It was the best job I ever had, I was able to accomodate my condition, heal my battered body, and I knew the work I was doing held meaning. Since then, I have been heavily involved with Stand Up Nashville, and recently joined a new non-profit tackling the growing housing crisis here in Nashville. In the interest of full transparency, I am a part of the comms team for Victoria Broderick, the District 4 Congressional Candidate. My goal is to bring TN out of the dark ages and into the modern era. For too long our working class voter base has remained disengaged and therfore disenfranchised.