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Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity and cannabis in Tennessee

The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Not on the qualifying list
✗ No
LEGAL
Low-THC oil for intract…
POSSESSION
$0/yr
STATE FEE
7–30 d
TIMELINE
Not on the qualifying list. The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Tennessee statute and program

The Tennessee Low-THC Possession Authorization (intractable seizures) is the operating authority for Tennessee patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: T.C.A. § 39-17-402: Cannabis classification (Schedule VI).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity

The 2017 NASEM consensus report found substantial evidence that oral cannabinoids improve patient-reported spasticity symptoms in adults with MS. Clinician-rated outcomes show smaller effects than patient-reported outcomes, suggesting a meaningful subjective benefit even where objective measures change less.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity page.

How to qualify in Tennessee

The Tennessee Low-THC Possession Authorization (intractable seizures) requires the following registration steps for a Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Confirm intractable-seizure diagnosis with a Tennessee neurologist. Tennessee operates a narrow low-THC possession authorization under Tenn. Code Ann. §39-17-402 (the "Tennessee Cannabis Oil Law" enacted in 2015 and modestly expanded in 2021). The program covers only intractable seizure disorders. A Tennessee-licensed physician — typically a neurologist — documents the diagnosis and the determination that the patient may benefit from cannabis oil (defined as oil containing ≤0.9% THC and at least 5% CBD by weight).
  2. Obtain a physician’s written certification or order. The physician issues a signed letter or written certification that the patient has been diagnosed with intractable epilepsy and is under the physician’s care. Tennessee does not maintain a state patient registry and does not issue a state-issued medical cannabis identification card under §39-17-402.
  3. No state registration fee. Tennessee charges no state patient registration fee, because there is no state patient registry to enroll in. The patient bears only the costs of the physician evaluation and the cannabis oil product obtained from another state.
  4. Obtain low-THC cannabis oil from another state and possess as an affirmative defense. Tennessee does not authorize in-state dispensaries or cultivation under §39-17-402. The patient or parent (for a minor patient) typically obtains low-THC cannabis oil from a legal program in another state (commonly Georgia, Virginia, or Colorado). Tennessee law provides an affirmative defense against possession charges when the patient or caregiver can produce the physician’s certification. The state does not honor out-of-state medical cards for any broader cannabis use.
State registration fee
$0
Physician visit (typical)
$200–$400
Certification to card
7–30 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full Tennessee registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the Tennessee cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity for the Tennessee medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 G35 or SNOMED-CT 24700007 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee list Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Tennessee's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity, and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity in Tennessee have limited in-state pathways under the medical program as written. Options to verify and pursue include: petitioning the state regulator to add the condition (where the statute permits public petitions); consulting a physician about whether a co-occurring listed condition could support certification; or reviewing whether the state's program is undergoing legislative expansion. Tennessee program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a Tennessee medical marijuana card for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity?

Because Tennessee does not currently list Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity as a qualifying condition, a card for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. Step one is finding a physician licensed in Tennessee who is registered with Tennessee Low-THC Possession Authorization (intractable seizures) and willing to evaluate Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. Tennessee does not honor out-of-state cards, so the certification process has to originate inside the state. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity?

For Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity, evidence is described as strong (e.g. multiple randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews supporting effect). The mmjnow condition page for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. T.C.A. § 39-17-402: Cannabis classification (Schedule VI)accessed May 15, 2026
  2. SB 280 (2015): Low-THC cannabis oil possession authorizationaccessed May 15, 2026
  3. NORML: Tennessee Lawsaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Tennesseeaccessed May 15, 2026
  5. T.C.A. §39-17-418: Simple possession or casual exchange (penalty schedule)accessed May 17, 2026
  6. Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Industrial Hemp Programaccessed May 17, 2026
  7. Tennessee General Assembly bill trackeraccessed May 17, 2026
  8. Nashville/Davidson County District Attorney: small-amount possession discretion policyaccessed May 17, 2026
  9. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 14, 2026

    “Substantial evidence that oral cannabinoids are effective for improving patient-reported MS spasticity symptoms.”

  10. National MS Society: Marijuanaaccessed May 14, 2026