Lawmakers move to block weed laws

NASHVILLE — A House subcommittee has approved a bill that would nullify partial marijuana decriminalization laws approved in Nashville and Memphis last year.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Cottontown, would repeal any local law that is inconsistent with penalties in state statutes pertaining to drug control and narcotics and prevent local governments from creating their own sanctions.

Despite the legislation coming in response to ordinances passed by city councils in Memphis and Nashville, the topic wasn’t broached when the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee took up House Bill 173 on Tuesday.

In an effort to criticize the legislation, Rep. Sherry Jones, D-Nashville, used examples of local ordinances in Gallatin and White House that are out of step with state law, arguing that there wasn’t a The Commercial Appeal Wednesday, March 1, 2017 need for Lamberth’s measure.

“We ought to let local governments do what they think is best,” Jones said.

Lamberth said the local ordinances that Jones pointed to were not enforced and therefore underlined call for the legislation.

“I seriously oppose this bill. I am really so tired of everybody trying to legislate what we do in Davidson County,” Jones concluded. “Maybe we need to start legislating what y’all do.”

The subcommittee approved the measure on a voice vote, with Jones being the lone dissenter. The bill, which has yet to be taken up in a Senate committee, will head to the full House Criminal Justice Committee.

The criminal justice subcommittee deferred action on other marijuana-related bills, including one that seeks to halt punishment for those with a valid medical marijuana card obtained from another state.