Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The Tennessee chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws - TN-NORML - is about 2,900 signatures short of the required 6,847 to add a referendum on the decriminalization of marijuana to the August 6th ballot. The Tennessean reports:
That tally is according to Doak Patton, president of TN-NORML, who said his organization still has several events to go over the final 13 days.
The group's charter amendment proposal would prevent Metro from appropriating any financial resources in support of the criminal prosecution of an adult for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
Even if TN-NORML collects the required number of signatures - and those signatures are certified - legal questions are likely to persist that could keep the amendment from being certified by the election commission. State law says that marijuana possession of any amount is a crime. Backers have countered those legal questions by arguing that the charter amendment only deals with the expenditure of Metro dollars - and thus does not trump state law.
"The stark racial disparities that have resulted from marijuana prosecutions are undeniable," said Daniel Horwitz, an attorney representing the petitioners. "At some point, society is also going to have to get over its obsession with putting people in prison just because we don't like the things they put in their mouths."
Earlier this week, Tennessee legalized the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes, not the the production or sale of it.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Nashville marijuana referendum may not collect enough votes | Nashville Sun Times
Author: Sam Stecklow
Contact: Contact Us | Nashville Sun Times
Photo Credit: John Clarke Russ | BDN
Website: Nashville Sun Times | Nashville News, Sports, Weather, Entertainment & More
That tally is according to Doak Patton, president of TN-NORML, who said his organization still has several events to go over the final 13 days.
The group's charter amendment proposal would prevent Metro from appropriating any financial resources in support of the criminal prosecution of an adult for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
Even if TN-NORML collects the required number of signatures - and those signatures are certified - legal questions are likely to persist that could keep the amendment from being certified by the election commission. State law says that marijuana possession of any amount is a crime. Backers have countered those legal questions by arguing that the charter amendment only deals with the expenditure of Metro dollars - and thus does not trump state law.
"The stark racial disparities that have resulted from marijuana prosecutions are undeniable," said Daniel Horwitz, an attorney representing the petitioners. "At some point, society is also going to have to get over its obsession with putting people in prison just because we don't like the things they put in their mouths."
Earlier this week, Tennessee legalized the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes, not the the production or sale of it.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Nashville marijuana referendum may not collect enough votes | Nashville Sun Times
Author: Sam Stecklow
Contact: Contact Us | Nashville Sun Times
Photo Credit: John Clarke Russ | BDN
Website: Nashville Sun Times | Nashville News, Sports, Weather, Entertainment & More
