Avoid marijuana if you are visiting Nashville
Marijuana is still illegal in Tennessee. It is important to remember this if you are making a cross-state road trip to visit Nashville and enjoy its fantastic live music scene. Just because some of the big-name musicians that played here have a reputation for smoking pot, does not mean you can.
Nashville tried to decriminalize the possession of a small amount of marijuana in 2016, but the state overturned it. Recent attempts to decriminalize medical marijuana use have not yet succeeded, although specific cannabis oils are allowed for certain medical conditions.
The simplest thing to do is to make sure you do not bring any marijuana or any marijuana paraphernalia when coming to Nashville. The penalties are harsh.
- Possession of less than half an ounce: This is classified as a misdemeanor. You could face a year in prison and $2500 fine.
- Possession of more than half an ounce: This is classified as a felony. You could go to jail for up to six years.
- Possession of drug paraphernalia: This is a misdemeanor and could land you in jail for up to 11 months. It does not have to be equipment used to produce cannabis either; things used to inhale it are also prohibited.
If you have been charged with marijuana possession in Nashville, your best bet is to contact a local attorney before you leave town. Running away will not make things better; taking prompt action will allow you to see if there are ways to overturn your charge or limit the consequences.
