MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - On Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee voted on eight bills that could affect the legal status of marijuana in the state. The proposed bills varied from decriminalization to medical use expansion to outright legal. While none of them passed, the hearings sparked a renewed debate on the issue.
Democratic lawmakers are renewing efforts to legal marijuana in Tennessee as top Republicans reiterated their opposition to full legal. The proposed legislation aims to create a regulated market for both medical and adult-use cannabis, which could generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and create thousands of jobs. Supporters argue that legal could also reduce drug-related crimes, alleviate opioid addiction, and provide relief for patients with chronic pain and other medical conditions.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A Tennessee lawmaker wants to see marijuana legal for all Tennesseans according to new legislation filed on Tuesday. The bill would allow adults over 21 to purchase and possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants for personal use. It would also expunge previous marijuana-related convictions and establish a licensing system for marijuana businesses. However, the proposal is expected to face opposition, especially from conservative lawmakers and law enforcement.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Volunteer State's best chance at having fully legal cannabis sales was defeated in a Senate committee at the end of March. The bill, which aimed to legal and regulate the sale and use of marijuana for adults, was heavily debated but ultimately failed to pass. Some lawmakers argued that legal marijuana could lead to increased drug use and addiction, while others pointed out the potential benefits for the state's economy and public health.
Tennessee will for now remain one of the few remaining states with no legal medical marijuana. A state Senate committee on Tuesday rejected a proposal to expand the state's limited medical cannabis program, which currently allows only CBD oil for patients with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. The bill would have added more qualifying conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain, and allowed patients to access THC-containing products.
Two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee have introduced legislation to legal medical and adult-use cannabis in the state. The proposed bills would establish a regulatory framework for marijuana cultivation, processing, and distribution, as well as allow patients with qualifying medical conditions to use and possess cannabis products. The sponsors of the bills cited the success of other states' legal programs in generating revenue, reducing crime rates, and improving public health.
Lawmakers in many states have started pre-filing marijuana law reform legislation, and some sessions have already begun holding hearings. Several states, such as New York and New Mexico, have already legal marijuana for adult use this year, joining the growing number of states that have done so. Other states, including Virginia and Connecticut, are expected to follow suit in the near future.
Voters in three more states could consider legal marijuana after the latest effort failed in Oklahoma. Backers are working on potential ballot initiatives to allow adult-use cannabis in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, where medical marijuana is already legal. Advocates hope that the growing momentum of legal across the country will eventually lead to federal reform and full legal.
On Oct. 6, President Biden announced his plan to pardon minor federal marijuana convictions and encouraged governors to do so on the state level. The move is seen as a step towards criminal justice reform and equity, as people of color have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. However, some critics argue that more needs to be done to address the systemic racism and inequality in the criminal justice system and to fully legal marijuana nationwide.
