Bowling introduces medical pot bill
NASHVILLE – A Republican lawmaker introduced a comprehensive bill Monday that would allow Tennesseans suffering from a variety of maladies to use medical marijuana.
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Janice Bowling, is dubbed the “Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act.”
The 29-page measure includes provisions that would allow those suffering from more than a dozen conditions the ability to consume marijuana.
Although lawmakers introduced a bill in 2018 that would have only allowed oil-based manufactured products to be consumed, Bowling’s measure appears to permit any form of marijuana for medical purposes.
“‘Cannabis’ means all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis, whether growing or not, including the seeds, extractions, of any kind from any part of the plant, and every compound, derivative, mixture, product, or preparation of the plant,” the bill states.
Bowling’s legislation would not permit any recreational use of marijuana in Tennessee.
The Tullahoma Republican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The broad purpose of the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act is to increase low-cost public health options, alleviate suffering, develop agriculture business, incentivize research of THC benefits, and expeditiously license and track medical cannabis from cultivation to point of sale within the boundaries of this state,” the bill says.
Patients wanting to legally obtain marijuana would have to have one of the following medical conditions: ❚ cancer ❚ glaucoma ❚ epilepsy ❚ HIV/AIDS ❚ Crohn’s disease ❚ Muscular sclerosis ❚ opioid addiction ❚ renal failure ❚ severe nausea or chronic pain ❚ any medical condition producing cachexia, persistent muscle spasm or seizures ❚ post traumatic stress syndrome ❚ chronic radiculopathy ❚ severe psoriasis ❚ psoriatic arthritis ❚ complex pain syndrome, including trigeminal neuralgia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, and Parkinson’s disease
❚ end-of-life pain management or palliative care
The legislation also allows anyone under the age of 18 who is suffering from the following conditions to consume medical marijuana: ❚ Cerebral palsy ❚ Cystic fibrosis ❚ Osteogenesis imperfecta ❚ Muscular Dystrophy ❚ Terminal conditions ❚ any additional conditions approved by a state commission
Qualifying patients would be required to obtain a “valid cannabis card.”
To obtain the card, the legislation requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, a resident of Tennessee, pay a $65 application fee and obtain a written diagnosis or medical record from a health care provider.
The legislation also allows parents and legal guardians to obtain a cannabis card on behalf of a minor.
Medical doctors, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners licensed in Tennessee would be among those who could provide a diagnosis to obtain the cannabis card.
FILE / AP
Cannabis cards would expire two years after they are issued.
Bowling’s measure also establishes the formation of a nine-member commission, which would be charged with, among other things, “making medical grade cannabis available to qualified patients.”
The commission would begin to issue cannabis cards as early as 2020.
The proposal also permits the cultivation and sale of marijuana throughout Tennessee.
Local city councils and county commissions wanting to ban cultivation, processing, manufacturing or sale of medical cannabis by a two-thirds vote by July 31, 2020.
Some form of marijuana consumption is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia.
Previous efforts to enact a medical marijuana law in Tennessee have failed to gain enough support in recent years.
Several members of the Senate, as well as Gov. Bill Lee, have expressed skepticism about allowing medical marijuana in Tennessee.
In January, Rep. Ron Travis, R-dayton, said he would be working with Bowling on the legislation. As of publication, there is no House sponsor to Bowling’s measure.
So far, Bowling’s legislation is the most-comprehensive medical marijuana proposal introduced so far this year.
Sen. Sara Kyle, D-memphis, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-knoxville, introduced a bill that would allow a Tennessean with a valid medical marijuana “identification” card issued in another state to carry a small amount of the drug in the Volunteer State.
Kyle also introduced two other bills dealing with marijuana — including one that would decriminalize the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Other Republicans, including state Rep. Bryan Terry, R-murfreesboro, could introduce other proposals dealing with medical marijuana.
The bill filing deadline for both chambers is this week.