Legislators Making Plans To Push For Legalization Of Cannabis In Upcoming Session
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Recent changes to federal laws regarding medical marijuana has many wondering if Tennessee is on the cusp of finally fully legalizing medical use of the drug. Currently, Tennessee is one of only 13 states that still have yet to completely legalize cannabis for medical purposes.
President Joe Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act last month. This new law removes restrictions that had been placed on doctors, allowing them now to talk to their patients about medical cannabis, and also making it easier for research and development of those products.
State Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro-District 48) has pushed legislation in the past that would make it easier for patients to access marijuana for medical purposes. He says that Biden’s new law is a “small step forward” but notes that there are still federal laws that hinder research progress.
In the upcoming legislative session, Terry plans to introduce new legislation that would allow for more extensive research of medical cannabis in the state.
“At a minimum, I plan on bringing legislation that will decriminalize possession of cannabis-based research medicines that would fall under this new law,” Terry explained.
Currently, state law makes it illegal to possess, use, sell, or distribute marijuana and cannabis products that contain more than 0.3% THC. This has not stopped businesses from popping up across the state, taking advantage of the current legal limits to offer a variety of recreational products.
Nashville has seen the opening of DAZED8, a THC delivery store. Music City also had a cannabis bar and restaurant called Buds and Brews open up, serving bar foods made with THC infused sauces, in the Germantown area. Another business, Holistic Connection, is a dispensary that offer snacks and bakery items made with “Nashville-grown craft cannabis.”
Several Democratic legislators have stated that they plan to introduce legislation that will fully legalize recreational use, though no bills have been filed to date.
“The legalization of cannabis in Tennessee is long overdue. For too long, much of the TN GOP has stood in the way,” tweeted State Representative John Clemmons (D-Nashville-District 55). “Let’s do this in 2023!”
Terry says that his proposals will not allow for any sort of recreational use or marketing to children.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he would support a proposal for medical use of the drug but not recreational.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
Please don’t make pot legal…it is a much more dangerous drug than what is advertised. It hurts the brain development of people well into their 20’s and foments psychotic breaks. I am from California and I moved to Tennessee to get away from the affect of drugs on young people and liberals on us all. Do not make Tennessee follow anything that is done in California. Write your local reps and make your views against this easing of the drug laws known.
This all TN. Needs is pot heads on the roads with Drunk drivers. Do a little research of your own. (Not main stream media) to see how legal pot has turned out in Colorado and others.
Doug I lived in Colorado and moved here in 2019. I am definitely against cannibus. The DUI’s went up, the homelessness went up and downtown Denver became filthy dirty. People need to check out the recent information done on Epoch times. Commercial cannabis is more potent then it was in the 70’s an there is no regulation on the potency. Illegal drug abuse increased and crime increased. I am absolutely against it!
First we don’t need to waste our money on research. There’s already thousands of studies done by Harvard, Stanford and the NIH. https://norml.org/marijuana/library/recent-medical-marijuana-research/
As for recreational use they might as well we already have certain strengths in stores and no matter the THC level it can boil down to smoking 2 cartridges to get the effect of 1 cartridge that is not yet legal here. It would cut down in drug cartels making a fortune off of our state, take away the cartels power and influence in our state and it will also cut down on the amount of illegals and traffickers that come to our state. The revenue it would pull in for those traitorous politicians to skim off the top will be a bonus for them.
I guess instead they will still lock up a marijuana dealer and let murderers , rapist and pedophiles off but make sure that stoner doesn’t hurt anyone right??
What we NEED is our God given herbal FREEDOM RESTORED!!
Mis-users/abusers be hanged, they’re ZERO reason to prohibit Cannabis for us who would use sensibly.
Genesis 1:29
And God GOD!! said, Behold, I have given you(for your judicious responsible use) every EVERY!! herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and(ALSO) every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.