GOP members to introduce medical marijuana bill for Tennessee
Published on 12/9/16
Medical marijuana legislation from a small team of Republican lawmakers will be announced next week in the Tennesee House. The move follows a 2015 bill to legalize industrial hemp for cannabidiol (CBD oil) which has been used to treat different conditions from seizures to pain. A similar medical marijuana bill was proposed last year with no results, and 2016 was no different. Despite expected opposition from some Republicans, many believe medical marijuana and a patient's right to relief has bipartisan support. One House member, Jeremy Faison, visited Colorado recently and documented his exploration of medical marijuana and patients. Faison hopes to see more veterans with PTSD benefit from medical marijuana in the future.
An announcement from the House Republican Caucus on Friday said an official announcement will come next week from state Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, who are planning to introduce legislation about medical marijuana.
"Letting seriously ill people follow their doctors' recommendations without fear of being sent to jail is a concept that appeals to people across party lines, and polls consistently bear that out," Angell said.
Faison has been conducting research into the use of marijuana in recent months. Sources in the legislature say he's passionate about the legislation and how medical marijuana might be used in Tennessee, specifically among military veterans who might be battling post-traumatic stress disorder or other conditions related to their service.
