Few Marijuana Bills Remain In Tennessee, And The One Likely To Pass Wouldn’t Legalize Anything

Of all the proposals to legalize forms of marijuana and its medicinal uses in Tennessee, only one is on the way for adoption this year. It’s just a small step closer to regulating cannabis.

There are several marijuana bills swirling around lawmakers again. These include one that is largely decriminalized for medical purposes, and one that is hyper-specific – For veterans with quadriplegia only. But they haven’t gained broad traction.

“Several reasons for this,” said Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, at a committee hearing earlier this month. “I think one of them is how massive the bill is and trying to understand that. Second, I don’t think Tennessee is ready for marijuana – especially not for leisure. “

Haile, a pharmacist, says he and other Republicans are starting to look into medical marijuana uses – especially for cancer patients who want pain control. And decriminalization at the federal level seems inevitable.

So, Hage’s suggestion (SB0118) would set up a commission to figure out how marijuana should be taxed and regulated – but only if it is no longer a state-controlled substance. It has very little resistance among Republicans, although it has not yet reached the final passage.

There is still a glimmer of hope among marijuana advocates for Senator Becky Massey’s proposal that could hit Senate floor Monday night. Medical marijuana legislation was up changed to be more of a pilot program for a limited number of diseases.

However, Senate Speaker Randy McNally has not changed his position and remains opposed to legalizing cannabis prior to federal action. Governor Bill Lee has also spoken out broadly against medical marijuana, though he hasn’t specifically spoken out against any legislation this year.