Two Tennessee Bills Aim to Legalize Medical & Recreational Cannabis Use

Tennessee still has medical and recreational marijuana illegal, but two separate lawmakers are trying to pass individual bills that would bring a medical program to the state as well as a legalized recreational adult-use market.

There are currently 37 states with cannabis legalized in some form, and a Democratic lawmaker wants Tennessee to hop on board. State Rep. Jason Powell proposed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana use. According to reports from NewsNation affiliate WKRN, Powell’s newly introduced bill was a result of the immense support for medical marijuana he’s heard around the state.

He explained that the main focus is “helping Tennesseans who have severe chronic and terrible health conditions,” adding that their “quality of life would be greatly enhanced with medical cannabis,” reports NewsNation. 

Another Democratic lawmaker Rep. Bob Freeman is thrilled with Powell’s initiatives to bring medical marijuana to Tennessee. However, he’s currently introducing a separate bill that would legalize recreational use. What was his inspiration? The prolonged war on drugs and how it’s disproportionately placed people in jail for nonviolent cannabis crimes. 

NewsNation reports Freeman explaining, “It’s time we move past this and legalize it – 37 states have already done this.” And he’s 100% correct. By keeping medical and recreational marijuana illegal, the state isn’t capitalizing on cultivation, selling, taxing, and growing weed. Although these bills seem promising, there are still some lingering debates on whether they would be beneficial. 

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is reported saying that the only way he would support the two bills is if marijuana is removed from the Schedule 1 list of controlled substances. He believes “Schedule 1 has no legitimate medical use,” notes NewsNation. 

Although there is still some back and forth regarding the new bills, Republican House member Bruce Griffey and Democratic Sen. Sara Kyle have initiated a poll on the 2022 ballot that would ask voters about how they feel regarding legalizing weed for both medical and recreational use.