Tennessee Democrats are pushing for public input on marijuana legalization, with Rep. Jesse Chism filing a bill to add three nonbinding questions related to the subject on the November 2024 ballot. These questions include whether the state should legalize medical marijuana, decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, and legalize and regulate commercial sales of recreational marijuana.
If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of State to compile and publish the results of the ballot questions. Despite resistance from some lawmakers who believe marijuana legalization should be a federal issue, previously conducted polling data shows that over 80% of Tennesseans support some form of cannabis legalization.
While several surrounding states have legalized marijuana use to some extent, including fully legalizing recreational cannabis, Tennessee continues to have strict prohibitions. Efforts to introduce even incremental marijuana legalization have not been successful in passing the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Chism believes it is important to gauge public opinion on the subject matter, especially as support for medical cannabis usage grows among Republican lawmakers like Sen. Janice Bowling. By giving Tennesseans a voice through these nonbinding questions, Democrats hope to shed light on what the people of the state truly want when it comes to marijuana laws.
Source
Photo credit www.wkrn.com