Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Tennessee Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Medical Cannabis met on Thursday to continue the debate on legislation surrounding medical cannabis.
Rep. Jeremy Faison, Co-Chairman of the committee, laid out changes to the proposed legislation he and others on the committee plan to file. While Faison says it will be among the "strictest medical cannabis bills in America, but that's fine with me because I want the people who need it most to have it."
Citing FBI data, Fasion said Tennessee in the Top 5 states in the nation for growing marijuana. Faison says the bill would allow the state to capitalize on what is already here.
A Medical Cannabis Commission
Rep. Faison says the legislation would form a commission to be appointed by Governor Bill Haslam and others. This committee would be charged with handling the "ins and outs" of cannabis oil use.
The commission would consist of "medical experts" in the field, including doctors who could regulate dosing
The commission would be charged with examining license applications for grow operations, distributors, and dispensaries.
The commission would also be in charge of issuing research licenses to any schools expressing interest in cannabis oil research.
Dosing and THC regulations would also be regulated by the commission.
Laws
Rep. Fasion says the way the bill is currently written in a way that would not change how law enforcement operates and handles marijuana.
By allowing only cannabis oil-based products to be legal, it would eliminate any issues or conflict when it comes to the "flower" of the plant or seeds. Only oil-based products would be allowed, so when a "grower" grows a plant, all they can manufacture is the oil.
Faison said the regulations would even bring jobs to the state. "Each grow operation would create 50-100 jobs." The facilities would be regulated on how byproducts are eliminated, security, and likely cost millions to construct and meet requirements.
When questioned on current laws already on the books that allow for .03% of cannabis oil in the state for children, Faison says the issue is many children with serious medical conditions need more than that concentration.
Faison shared a story of a veteran he met who said he and his wife have to take their granddaughter to Colorado every two months to get cannabis oil treatments. The veteran told Faison his granddaughter was among those who needed more than the .03% dosing allowed in the state. He hopes laws in the state will change because he and the family would love to "come out of the shadows."
Tracking
Rep. Faison says the legislation includes "chipped cards" other states have employed. These cards would allow for real-time tracking. A patient's doctor would be able to put how much oil the patient is allowed to have for the month on the card.
Faison said for example, if a patient's card states they are allowed 30 mg of cannabis oil for the month, that patient could walk into a dispensary and the dispensary would know how much oil they could sell to the person.
Faison says use of a chipped card also would allow law enforcement to track what is allowed. If a person is pulled over or searched by police, they could check the card with the database and know if that person has the allowed amount of oil on their person. Anything above that and officers would know it was obtained on the black market.
Support
The committee hearing heard from lawmakers, medical professionals, and patients who use cannabis oil.
Among the most-poignant statements came from former Assistant District Attorney of Knox County Allison Watson.
Watson says issues surrounding medical marijuana can largely be attributed to the federal government. Watson said the DEA has blocked essential research through the years that could be essential to approval. "Patients in Tennessee do not simply have time to wait on the feds to fix the hypocritical problem they created."
Watson pointed to polls showing 94% of Americans and 90% of GOP voters support medical marijuana. As a former DA, Watson says 80% of marijuana arrests are made for possession, not the sale of marijuana. Watson says some of those arrested for possession are using it to treat medical conditions.
"There is no conspiracy here," Watson says of those concerned legalization could lead to the adoption of other drug bills. "Every law should be judged on it's own merits," Watson says. She also added no state which has passed medical cannabis laws has repealed it's laws, saying "if all the fears and rhetoric were true, we would see some back-pedaling."
Watson also shared data showing in states where medical has been made legal, they have reported a 25% reduction in opioid use and deaths.
The former DA was met with some disagreements from those on the committee when it comes to legalization and the dangers it could pose to youth in the state. Rep. Faison noted it was important to remember the proposed bill focuses on cannabis oil unlike other states where marijuana has been approved for recreational use.
Faison says there will be future committee meeting where he intends to bring in officials from the DEA and FBI.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tennessee Ad Hoc Committee on Medical Cannabis gives insight into new legislation | WZTV
Author: Adrian Mojica
Contact: Nashville Contact | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Photo Credit: MGN
Website: Nashville News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Rep. Jeremy Faison, Co-Chairman of the committee, laid out changes to the proposed legislation he and others on the committee plan to file. While Faison says it will be among the "strictest medical cannabis bills in America, but that's fine with me because I want the people who need it most to have it."
Citing FBI data, Fasion said Tennessee in the Top 5 states in the nation for growing marijuana. Faison says the bill would allow the state to capitalize on what is already here.
A Medical Cannabis Commission
Rep. Faison says the legislation would form a commission to be appointed by Governor Bill Haslam and others. This committee would be charged with handling the "ins and outs" of cannabis oil use.
The commission would consist of "medical experts" in the field, including doctors who could regulate dosing
The commission would be charged with examining license applications for grow operations, distributors, and dispensaries.
The commission would also be in charge of issuing research licenses to any schools expressing interest in cannabis oil research.
Dosing and THC regulations would also be regulated by the commission.
Laws
Rep. Fasion says the way the bill is currently written in a way that would not change how law enforcement operates and handles marijuana.
By allowing only cannabis oil-based products to be legal, it would eliminate any issues or conflict when it comes to the "flower" of the plant or seeds. Only oil-based products would be allowed, so when a "grower" grows a plant, all they can manufacture is the oil.
Faison said the regulations would even bring jobs to the state. "Each grow operation would create 50-100 jobs." The facilities would be regulated on how byproducts are eliminated, security, and likely cost millions to construct and meet requirements.
When questioned on current laws already on the books that allow for .03% of cannabis oil in the state for children, Faison says the issue is many children with serious medical conditions need more than that concentration.
Faison shared a story of a veteran he met who said he and his wife have to take their granddaughter to Colorado every two months to get cannabis oil treatments. The veteran told Faison his granddaughter was among those who needed more than the .03% dosing allowed in the state. He hopes laws in the state will change because he and the family would love to "come out of the shadows."
Tracking
Rep. Faison says the legislation includes "chipped cards" other states have employed. These cards would allow for real-time tracking. A patient's doctor would be able to put how much oil the patient is allowed to have for the month on the card.
Faison said for example, if a patient's card states they are allowed 30 mg of cannabis oil for the month, that patient could walk into a dispensary and the dispensary would know how much oil they could sell to the person.
Faison says use of a chipped card also would allow law enforcement to track what is allowed. If a person is pulled over or searched by police, they could check the card with the database and know if that person has the allowed amount of oil on their person. Anything above that and officers would know it was obtained on the black market.
Support
The committee hearing heard from lawmakers, medical professionals, and patients who use cannabis oil.
Among the most-poignant statements came from former Assistant District Attorney of Knox County Allison Watson.
Watson says issues surrounding medical marijuana can largely be attributed to the federal government. Watson said the DEA has blocked essential research through the years that could be essential to approval. "Patients in Tennessee do not simply have time to wait on the feds to fix the hypocritical problem they created."
Watson pointed to polls showing 94% of Americans and 90% of GOP voters support medical marijuana. As a former DA, Watson says 80% of marijuana arrests are made for possession, not the sale of marijuana. Watson says some of those arrested for possession are using it to treat medical conditions.
"There is no conspiracy here," Watson says of those concerned legalization could lead to the adoption of other drug bills. "Every law should be judged on it's own merits," Watson says. She also added no state which has passed medical cannabis laws has repealed it's laws, saying "if all the fears and rhetoric were true, we would see some back-pedaling."
Watson also shared data showing in states where medical has been made legal, they have reported a 25% reduction in opioid use and deaths.
The former DA was met with some disagreements from those on the committee when it comes to legalization and the dangers it could pose to youth in the state. Rep. Faison noted it was important to remember the proposed bill focuses on cannabis oil unlike other states where marijuana has been approved for recreational use.
Faison says there will be future committee meeting where he intends to bring in officials from the DEA and FBI.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tennessee Ad Hoc Committee on Medical Cannabis gives insight into new legislation | WZTV
Author: Adrian Mojica
Contact: Nashville Contact | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Photo Credit: MGN
Website: Nashville News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
