While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the nation, Tennessee remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law. But with your help, this can be the year Tennessee finally enacts a compassionate medical cannabis law!

Tennessee is one of only 14 states that has yet to pass a medical cannabis law. Fortunately, lawmakers are working to change that in 2021. Sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling, SB 854 would legalize medical cannabis for patients who qualify and establish a medical cannabis commission to regulate production and sales.

If you live in Tennessee, write your lawmakers to ask them to support the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act. Two-thirds of Americans now live in states with compassionate laws that allow the medical use of marijuana. Meanwhile, Tennessee patients are stuck with the cruel choice of forgoing a medicine that could bring them relief, uprooting from their home state, or breaking the law to ease their suffering. Ask your state lawmakers to make this the year that Tennessee joins 32 compassionate states. Last…

If you live in Tennessee, let your lawmakers know Tennessee patients deserve a compassionate medical cannabis program. Yesterday, newly elected and returning lawmakers convened for the first day of Tennessee's 2019 legislative session. Since the legislature adjourned last year, voters in Utah, Oklahoma, and Missouri enacted medical cannabis laws, bringing the number of medical cannabis states to 32. But even though 81% of Tennessee voters support medical cannabis, patients either needlessly suffer…

Yesterday, Sen. Steve Dickerson and Rep. Jeremy Faison introduced the Medical Cannabis Only Act of 2018, a bill that would allow Tennessee patients with certain health conditions to access safe, regulated marijuana. Nearly 80 percent of registered Tennessee voters support allowing patients the freedom to access medical marijuana. If you are a Tennessee resident, please tell your legislators to support the Medical Cannabis Only Act! Many patients who find relief from marijuana do not respond to prescription…

The 2016 Tennessee legislative session, which ended on April 23, saw an incremental improvement in the state’s marijuana policies. Last week, Gov. Bill Haslam signed HB 1478 into law, which will eliminate the provision that makes a third conviction for possession of marijuana a felony. The law will take effect on July 1, 2016. This change will reduce the penalty for third-time possession from between one and six years of incarceration to less than one year in jail. In addition, having a misdemeanor…

On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed SB 280 into law. This new law, which was sponsored by Sen. Becky Massey, will allow qualified patients to legally possess cannabis oils with no more than 0.9% THC if their doctors recommend it. While this is an improvement to current law, it leaves the vast majority of medical marijuana patients without legal protections for using and possessing the medicine their doctors think is best for them. [caption id="attachment_8753" align="alignright" width="150"]…

[caption id="attachment_7675" align="alignright" width="207"] Gov. Bill Haslam[/caption] On May 16, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed a limited medical marijuana bill into law. SB 2531 proposes creating a four-year study on the benefits of cannabidiol, often referred to as “CBD,” a non-psychoactive component of marijuana. Unfortunately, the many limitations placed on the bill by lawmakers mean it is unlikely to result in relief for seriously ill patients in the state. MPP will not be counting…

Rep. Sherry Jones has taken an important step for seriously ill patients in Tennessee and introduced a medical marijuana bill, HB 1385. [caption id="attachment_7205" align="alignright" width="120"] Rep. Sherry Jones[/caption] The bill, known as the Koozer-Kuhn Medical Cannabis Act, would establish a regulatory system similar to those adopted in 20 other states and the District of Columbia. Rep. Jones recently told WRCB-TV that the bill is “simply a matter of being rational and compassionate.” The…