cannabisnews.com: Legislature Eyes Medical Marijuana 





Legislature Eyes Medical Marijuana 
Posted by CN Staff on April 13, 2005 at 22:50:50 PT
By Judith R. Tackett
Source: Nashville City Paper
Tennessee -- The legislature has introduced a bill that would legalize marijuana for medical use in Tennessee. Sen. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) said one reason for him to introduce the bill at this time was to raise the public’s and the legislature’s awareness of a new subject.“Normally projects take three years to mature in the [legislature],” Cohen said. “The lottery took 18 years. … I hope medical marijuana doesn’t take that long.”
Cohen said he knew legalizing marijuana for medical purposes was not ready yet for passage in the Tennessee legislature this year.“I think there are a lot of medical benefits from it,” Cohen said, asking the Senate General Welfare Committee Wednesday to push the proposal to its last calendar.Cohen said he intends to suggest that a study committee look at the issue over the summer and allow for public input.Another Memphis Democrat, Sen. John Ford, who chairs the General Welfare Committee, said Cohen’s proposal was “a piece of legislation whose time should be here now or should come very, very soon.“We’re not talking about sitting around and smoking pot,” Ford said. “This is for medical purposes.”But Sen. Raymond Finney (R-Maryville) requested that a summer study committee also examine the fact that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) still outlaws the use of marijuana for medical purposes and look into how the state could overcome the issue of illegality.The drafted legislation contains a paragraph stating, “States are not required to enforce federal law or prosecute people for engaging in activities prohibited by federal law. Therefore, compliance with this act does not put the state of Tennessee in violation of federal law.”Ten other states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington — have passed laws to allow the consumption and cultivation of marijuana for medical use.“Every poll that I’ve seen shows at least 75 percent of the public in favor of it,” Cohen said, adding that people with health risks especially favor the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.“When the people are dying and they’re in pain, there is nothing the government should really prohibit them,” Cohen said. Source: City Paper, The (TN)Author: Judith R. TackettPublished: April 14, 2005Copyright: 2005, The City Paper LLCContact: letters nashvillecitypaper.comWebsite: http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/Related Articles & Web Site:U of Tennessee NORMLhttp://web.utk.edu/~normlutk/Marijuana Legislation Proposedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20341.shtmlCohen Promoting Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19859.shtmlSenator Advocates Legal Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19858.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 21, 2005 at 10:11:04 PT
NORML Alert: Tennessee Medical Marijuana Update 
April 21, 2005Dear Friends:You should have recently received a letter from NORML alerting you that a medical marijuana bill, HB 0968, was being debated in the Tennessee Legislature. We are writing today with the unfortunate news that the bill was removed from the subcommittee calendar for the remander of the session, effectively killing the bill for this legislative session.While NORML is disappointed by the defeat of House Bill 0968, we are confident that the bill will be put back on the calendar when the legislature reconvenes next year. The fact that medical marijuana was seriously considered in the legislature has rejuvenated the efforts of local activists who will be ready to fight for the bill's passage next year.NORML would like to thank all of you who took the time to write your elected officials in support of HB 0968. Without your support, this bill undoubtedly would not have gone as far as it did this year. We hope you will continue to support medical marijuana and NORML's efforts in Tennessee over the coming years.To help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/Thank you for your support.Sincerely,Kris Krane, Associate Director NORML
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by mayan on April 14, 2005 at 17:25:00 PT
REPRESENT
“Every poll that I’ve seen shows at least 75 percent of the public in favor of it,” Cohen said, adding that people with health risks especially favor the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.These "representatives" better represent or they just might find themselves looking for work! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 14, 2005 at 10:34:51 PT
Tennessee MMJ Bills To Receive Hearings Shortly
TN Medical Marijuana Bills To Receive Hearings Shortly WHAT: TN Medical Marijuana Bills To Receive Hearings ShortlyWHERE: Tennessee House Mental Health Sub-Committee & Tennessee Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee State Capitol Legislative Plaza Nashville, TN 37243WHEN: Tuesday, April 19 & Wednesday, April 27NORML is pleased to announce that HB 968 & SB 1942, companion medical marijuana bills in the Tennessee Legislature, will be receiving committee hearings in the near future. On Tuesday, April 19, the House Mental Health Sub-Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 968, while the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 1942 on Wednesday, April 27. (This hearing will be a follow up to yesterday's Senate debate on SB 1942.)If you have not done so already, please take a moment today to write your Representative and tell him or her to support House Bill 968. Pre-written letters are available online from NORML at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=6930696&type=STAfter you have sent a letter to your Representative, please send another pre-written letter to your state Senator in support of Senate Bill 1942 at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=6930596&type=STIn addition, if your Representative serves on the House Mental Health Sub-Committee, it is vital that you call him or her and voice your support for medical marijuana. The following Representatives serve on the House Mental Health Sub-Committee:Representative David Shepard (D-TN 69th), Chair - (615) 741-3513 Representative Chris Crider (R-TN 79th) - (615) 741-7478 Representative John Deberry (D-TN 90th) - (615) 741-2239 Representative Tom Dubois (R-TN 64th) - (615) 741-7444 Representative Sherry Jones (D-TN 59th) - (615) 741-2035 Representative Jason Mumpower (R-TN 3rd) - (615) 741-2050 Representative Mike Turner (D-TN 51st) - (615) 741-3229 Representative Bo Watson (R-TN 31st) - (615) 741-3227In order to ensure strong support for both the House and Senate bills, we are also asking you to call members of the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee, especially if your Senator sits on the committee. The following Senators serve on the General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee:Senator John N. Ford (D-TN 29th), Chair - (615) 741-3304 Senator Diane Black (R-TN 18th), Vice-Chair - (615) 741-1999 Senator Rusty Crowe (R-TN 3rd), Secretary - (615) 741-2468 Senator Raymond Finney (R-TN 8th) - (615) 741-2427 Senator Roy Herron (D-TN 24th) - (615) 741-4576 Senator Rosalind Kurita (D-TN 22nd) - (615) 741-2374 Senator James F. Kyle, Jr. (D-TN 28th) - (615) 741-4167 Senator Randy McNally (R-TN 5th) - (615) 741-6806 Senator Curtis S. Person, Jr. (R-TN 31st) - (615) 741-2419To help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/Thank you again for your support of NORML's legislative efforts in Tennessee.Regards,Kris Krane, Associate Director NORML
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 14, 2005 at 04:01:02 PT
Great support means less risk for politicians.
"Another Memphis Democrat, Sen. John Ford, who chairs the General Welfare Committee, said Cohen’s proposal was “a piece of legislation whose time should be here now or should come very, very soon." ... ...At the election booth, this issue is batting a thousand; it has passed every time. !!! !!!Great citizen support means less risk for politicians.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment