Marijuana Charges in Memphis — Possession & Sale Defense

Whatever the law says in other states, marijuana remains illegal in Tennessee — and Shelby County prosecutors still bring these cases every day. Possession of half an ounce or less is a misdemeanor, but the jump from a misdemeanor to a felony happens faster than most people expect, and a conviction still carries a record that follows you into job applications, housing, and licensing. If you have been cited or arrested on a marijuana charge in Memphis, it is worth defending.

Marijuana charges are one part of our broader drug defense practice. Our Memphis drug charge lawyers defend possession, sale, delivery, and manufacturing cases involving every controlled substance throughout Shelby County and West Tennessee.

How Tennessee Grades Marijuana Offenses

Marijuana is a Schedule VI substance under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-415. Simple possession or casual exchange of half an ounce or less is a Class A misdemeanor under § 39-17-418. Sale, delivery, or possession with intent under § 39-17-417 is graded by weight — a Class E felony from over half an ounce to ten pounds, with higher classes at higher weights. Hemp-derived and THC-content questions have also made what the substance legally is a genuine issue in some cases.

Penalties at a Glance

Charge	Classification	Range
Simple possession / casual exchange — 0.5 oz or less	Class A misdemeanor	Up to 11 mos 29 days; fine up to $2,500
Sale / delivery / PWID — over 0.5 oz to 10 lbs	Class E felony	1–6 years
Sale / delivery / PWID — 10 lbs and higher tiers	Class D felony and above by weight	2–12 years and up
Largest quantity tiers	Class B and above	8–30 years and up

Fines, mandatory minimums, and enhancements (drug-free zones, firearms, priors) can apply on top of the ranges above; grading depends on the specific subsection charged.

Factors That Can Increase the Penalties

• Drug-free school zones. Under T.C.A. § 39-17-432, an offense committed within 500 feet of a school, park, public library, recreation center, or child care center can be charged one classification higher. The 2020 amendments reduced the zone from 1,000 feet and gave judges more discretion, but these cases remain serious.
• Firearms. Possessing a firearm during a dangerous felony such as drug trafficking (T.C.A. § 39-17-1324) adds a mandatory, consecutive sentence that begins only after the drug sentence is served. In federal court, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) works the same way.
• Sale to a minor. Selling or delivering to a minor raises the offense by one grade under T.C.A. § 39-17-417(k).
• Prior convictions. Three or more prior Class A or B felony drug convictions can trigger habitual drug offender sentencing under T.C.A. § 39-17-417(l) — one full range higher, plus a fine of up to $200,000.
• Drug Offender Registry. A felony drug conviction can place your name, birthdate, and offense on Tennessee’s public Drug Offender Registry for ten years.

Where Marijuana Cases Are Heard in Shelby County

Most Memphis drug cases begin in the General Sessions Criminal Court divisions at 201 Poplar Avenue. Misdemeanors may be resolved there; felony charges typically move through a preliminary hearing and grand jury presentment into a Shelby County Criminal Court division for arraignment, motion practice, and trial. Cases with federal exposure — larger quantities, firearms, or multi-defendant investigations — may instead be charged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Brooks Law Firm appears regularly in each of these courts, and our Memphis drug charge lawyers handle cases from the first appearance through disposition. Where an arrest also produces a seizure of cash, a vehicle, or other property, we contest the taking in the separate forfeiture proceeding — see our civil asset forfeiture defense page.

Defenses We Examine in Every Case

• The stop and the search. Most drug cases begin with a search of a vehicle, a residence, or a person. Whether that search complied with the Fourth Amendment is often the single most important issue in the case — a successful motion to suppress can end the prosecution.
• Actual vs. constructive possession. Drugs found in a shared car, apartment, or bag are not automatically yours. The State must prove you knowingly possessed the substance — proximity alone is not possession.
• Proof of the substance and the weight. A field test is not a conviction. The State must prove through laboratory analysis what the substance is and what it weighs — and weight disputes (packaging, moisture, mixtures) can change the felony class. See our page on challenging drug testing evidence.
• Intent. The line between simple possession and possession with intent often rests on inference — scales, baggies, cash, messages. Each inference can be challenged.
• Hemp vs. marijuana. Legal hemp and illegal marijuana are distinguished by THC concentration — and proving the difference requires quantitative lab analysis the State does not always have.
• Odor-based searches. Cases built on the claimed smell of marijuana raise contestable search issues, particularly where nothing else supported the intrusion.

Where the case involves multiple people or an alleged agreement, the exposure changes substantially — see our page on drug conspiracy defense. And because the difference between a conviction and a dismissal or diversion determines whether the record can ever be cleared, we evaluate expungement and diversion eligibility from the first consultation.

Alternatives to a Conviction

For many clients — especially first-time defendants and those whose marijuana charges are driven by addiction — the goal is to avoid a conviction altogether. Tennessee offers several paths, and part of our job is identifying which ones you may qualify for:

• Pretrial diversion (T.C.A. § 40-15-105) — charges are held in abeyance and dismissed on successful completion.
• Judicial diversion (T.C.A. § 40-35-313) — a guilty plea is deferred, and the charge is dismissed and eligible for expungement if you complete probation.
• Recovery Court / Drug Court — a structured treatment alternative certified by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, available even for some offenses carrying mandatory minimums.
• Expungement (T.C.A. § 40-32-101) — where a case is dismissed, diverted, or otherwise qualifies, we can move to clear it from your record.

Tennessee’s Good Samaritan overdose law (T.C.A. § 63-1-156) can also provide immunity from certain drug charges for a person who seeks emergency medical help during an overdose. If that describes your situation, tell us early — it can change the analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is marijuana legal in Tennessee?

No. Recreational and medical marijuana remain illegal in Tennessee, and possession of even a small amount is a criminal charge in Shelby County.

Is half an ounce a felony?

Possession of half an ounce or less is a Class A misdemeanor. Sale or possession with intent involving more than half an ounce is a felony — which is why weight and intent are the central battlegrounds.

Can I get diversion for a first marijuana charge?

Many first-time defendants qualify for judicial or pretrial diversion, which ends in dismissal and expungement eligibility when completed. Eligibility depends on your record and the charge.

Talk to a Memphis Drug Charge Lawyer

If you or a family member has been arrested on a drug charge in Memphis, Shelby County, or the surrounding West Tennessee area, contact Brooks Law Firm before your first court date. Call our office at (901) 324-5000, or call or text the criminal defense line at 901-412-2973. Our office is located at 2299 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104, in Midtown Memphis. Spanish-language services are available. Se habla Español.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Tennessee law, last reviewed July 2026, and is not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Offense grading and penalties depend on the substance, the amount, the specific subsection charged, and prior convictions, and statutes may be amended after the date above. If you have been charged with a drug offense, contact a qualified Tennessee attorney about the specific facts of your matter.