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TCA 39-17-401

Tennessee Drug Control Act

MISDEMEANOR CClass C Misdemeanor
Sentence enhancement may apply

What does this charge mean?

This statute establishes the "Tennessee Drug Control Act of 1989" that governs drug crimes in Tennessee. The state has complete power to set drug penalties, and local governments cannot create their own drug laws that differ from state law.

Penalty Details

ClassificationClass C Misdemeanor
Maximum Jail30 days
Maximum Fine$50
Penalty SummaryClass C misdemeanor; 30 days; fine up to $50
(a) This part and title 53, chapter 11, parts 3 and 4 shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Drug Control Act of 1989.” (A) Substances recognized as drugs in the United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopaths Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them. See Tennessee Code 39-17-402Government: means the state or any political subdivision of the state, and includes any branch or agency of the state, a county, municipality or other political subdivision. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession thereof, and any area subject to the legal authority of the United States. See Tennessee Code 39-17-402(b) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by state law, the state preempts the entire field of determining the appropriate sanction for conduct involving a drug or other substance that is classified by this part or title 53, chapter 11, as a Class A or B misdemeanor or a Class A, B, C, D, or E felony. No county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan form of government has the authority by ordinance, resolution, regulation, or other local law to enact or adopt a sanction for conduct involving a drug or other substance if the sanction for that conduct is established by this part or title 53, chapter 11, as a criminal offense other than a Class C misdemeanor. Any ordinance, resolution, regulation, or other local law enacted or adopted prior to April 12, 2017, regulating drugs and other substances that is inconsistent with this part and title 53, chapter 11, is superseded and repealed. Any policy, guideline, or practice of any agency, department, or employee of a county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan form of government that regulates or permits the enforcement of conduct covered by this subsection (b) in a manner inconsistent with state law is void.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026

Quick Facts

MISDEMEANOR C
TCA Section39-17-401
Max Jail30 days
Max Fine$50