Nashville marijuana decriminalization bill survives first vote

Currently in Tennessee, those caught with less than an ounce of marijuana face a misdemeanor punshable up to a year in jail and fines up to $2,500, but some legislators are hoping to change that. In a first vote by the Metro Council, legislators passed a decriminalization bill that would lower penalties in Nashville for those possessing less than half an ounce of marijuana to a $50 fine or 10 hours of community service. Some legislators who voted for the proposal have stated that they'll likely vote against the bill in the future, but wanted to open up the floor to discussion. Nashville legislators have never considered a marijuana decriminalization proposal before this, but they hope to model the current proposal after Tampa's.

“I think it’s completely unfair to shut off debate and kill this bill before we’ve ever had it before any committee — any conversation about it whatsoever,” Pulley said. “Let’s at least move it through the process and see what we can come up with. Everybody’s going to have an opportunity to weigh in on this.”