No, cannibalism is not explicitly legal in Tennessee, as state statutes criminalize acts involving bodily harm or depravity, including those under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-210 (Vicious Animal Offenses) and § 39-13-201 (Assault). While no law directly names cannibalism, prosecutors may pursue charges under aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse, or public indecency statutes. Local district attorneys in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville have historically applied broad interpretations of “depraved” conduct to such cases.
Key Regulations for Cannibalism in Tennessee
- Aggravated Assault (§ 39-13-202): Prohibits causing serious bodily injury with intent to dismember or consume another’s flesh, punishable by 8–30 years imprisonment.
- Abuse of a Corpse (§ 39-17-312): Criminalizes mutilation or consumption of human remains, with Class E felony penalties (1–6 years).
- Local Ordinances: Metropolitan Nashville’s Public Health Code (2024) empowers health inspectors to intervene in cases involving bodily fluids or tissue, aligning with CDC biosafety protocols.
Tennessee’s 2026 legislative session may introduce explicit amendments to § 39-13-201, expanding definitions of “depraved” acts to include cannibalistic intent, following national trends in post-2023 federal guidance on extreme violence.