A couple of Tennessee lawmakers will push to legalize a comprehensive medical marijuana program in the upcoming legislative session.
According to a report from the Tennessean, state Representative Jeremy Faison and Senator Steve Dickerson will introduced a piece of legislation on Wednesday intended to give patients with a variety of health conditions access to medical marijuana.
There has been some bi-partisan support in recent years with respect to this type of legislation, but not enough to put Tennessee on the path of 28 other states with wide-reaching programs either in place on within a year and a half of implementation.
Unfortunately, the state’s legislative forces have only proven capable of passing a restrictive CBD oil program.
But lawmakers are starting to learn that the current law has no real benefit for those in need.
In fact, Faison recently visited Colorado to learn more about why Tennessee’s cannabis oil program was not enough.
The lawmaker told NBC affiliate WBIR in October that he had learned a lot about medical marijuana during his trip and he wanted to bring a medical marijuana program to Tennessee that is more in line with what he witnessed in Colorado.
"I thought marijuana use was basically for potheads and over the last few years I have evolved, and this is what I've come to believe, this plant is really God’s hope,” Faison told WBIR. "Just because someone might pervert the use of this, doesn’t make me scared to give it to someone who could use it. I see the benefits greatly outweigh the negative."
Whether the Tennessee Legislature will side with Faison’s newfound attitude on this issue remains to be seen.
However, Doak Patton, president of the Tennessee chapter of NORML told MERRY JANE that all of the physicians in the General Assembly support the passing of a more comprehensive medical marijuana law. He hopes that members of both houses will listen to science when it comes time for a debate.
“I think medical is very possible this year,” Patton said, adding that he is eager to find out more about the bill on Wednesday.
A recent Vanderbilt University poll found that 75 percent of the Tennessee voters believe the state should legalize a more comprehensive medical marijuana program.