NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Tennessee is one of the few states in the country that has not yet legalized medical or recreational marijuana. However, Democratic lawmakers are renewing their efforts to change that, while top Republicans continue to voice their opposition to full legalization.
The Volunteer State's best chance at having fully legalized cannabis sales was defeated in a Senate committee at the beginning of 2020. The bill would have established a framework for the regulation and taxation of marijuana, but it was ultimately voted down.
Tennessee will, for now, remain one of the few remaining states with no legal medical marijuana. A state Senate committee recently rejected a bill that would have allowed for its use by patients with qualifying medical conditions.
While the lack of legal marijuana in Tennessee applies to all residents of the state, one advocacy group says it negatively impacts veterans who use the drug to treat conditions such as PTSD.
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee voted on eight bills that could affect the legal status of marijuana in the state. The bills ranged from decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana to establishing a medical marijuana program, but all were ultimately deferred to the next legislative session.
Despite these setbacks, there is hope for marijuana legalization in Tennessee. A new piece of legislation was filed on Tuesday that would legal marijuana for all residents of the state. The bill would allow for adults to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to four plants for personal use.
Additionally, two Democratic lawmakers have introduced separate bills to legal medical and adult-use cannabis in the state. The medical marijuana bill would allow for patients with qualifying conditions to use cannabis under the guidance of a doctor, while the adult-use bill would establish a framework for the regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Tennessee's current marijuana laws carry harsh penalties for possession and distribution. possession of half an ounce or less is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. possession of more than half an ounce is a felony with a minimum sentence of one year and a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
21 states in the country have already legalized recreational marijuana, and if new legislation passes this session, Tennessee could join them. However, even if marijuana is legalized in the state, it is unlikely that sales would begin for at least a year as regulation and licensing procedures would need to be established.
In conclusion, the state of legal weed in Tennessee is currently in flux. While efforts to legal marijuana have been met with opposition in the past, new legislation is being introduced that could change the state's marijuana laws. It remains to be seen whether Tennessee will join the growing number of states that have legalized marijuana, but the possibility is there.
