The post Tennessee Lawmakers Plan To Introduce Medical Marijuana Bill appeared first on High Times.
While proponents of medical marijuana in Tennessee have routinely tried—and failed—to successfully introduce medical marijuana to residents in the state, two lawmakers are open to a swift compromise in order to get some form of the plant legalized.
State Senator Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) and Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), have introduced the Medical Cannabis Only Act of 2018, a proposed bill that would still disallow the smoking of traditional marijuana plants and edibles, but legalize oil-based marijuana products for patients with qualifying health conditions.
Medical Marijuana In Tennessee?
Senator Dickerson said the time has come for at least some form of cannabis to be available for medicinal purposes.
“Now is the time for the General Assembly to embrace thoughtful, medically responsible legislation to help Tennessee’s sickest residents,” Dickerson said.
Backers of the proposed bill hope the Medical Cannabis Only Act will sway those reluctant to embrace the plant as a viable form of medication. According to Representative Faison, oils are much harder to ‘abuse’ than classic dried herbs. Additionally, Faison contends that manufacturers of the oils have the ability to isolate the substances that make marijuana effective, as well as label dosages. This way, some patients could opt for a CBD-exclusive oil, which would not get the user high.
While a small sect of Tennesseans remains low on the prospects of legal cannabis, one recent Vanderbilt University poll shows that almost 80 percent of registered voters in Tennessee support, at the very least, doctors having the ability to prescribe medical cannabis to patients.
Representative Faison believes having the option of medical marijuana would provide a safer alternative