A Tennessee proposal seeks to ask voters on their 2024 ballots whether they support each of the following cannabis policy moves: medical cannabis legalization, cannabis decriminalization, and the legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis.
Tennessee Bill Seeks Non-Binding Ballot Question to Ask Voters Whether They Support Cannabis Reforms
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A bill introduced in Tennessee would add three cannabis-related questions to 2024 ballots, WKRN reports. The measure, introduced by Democrat Rep. Jesse Chism, would be non-binding and serve to gauge public interest in the medical and adult-use legalization and decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis.
The questions that would be put to voters are:
- Should the State of Tennessee legalize medical marijuana?
- Should the State of Tennessee decriminalize possession of less than one ounce (1 oz.) of marijuana?
- Should the State of Tennessee legalize and regulate commercial sales of recreational use marijuana?
The measure would require the Secretary of State to send the poll results to each member of the state General Assembly.
A previous attempt by former Rep. Bruce Griffey to add the same questions to 2022 ballots was unsuccessful.
Two bills have been introduced already this session in Tennessee, the report says. Rep. Bob Freeman (D) and Sen. Heidi Campbell (D) introduced the “Free All Cannabis for Tennesseans,” Chism also introduced the “Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act.”
In previous years, Tennessee lawmakers have not moved a medical cannabis proposal out of committee, save for a very limited medical cannabis bill in 2021. That measure did not become law.
A 2019 Power Poll, conducted by the Chattanooga Free Press, found 88% of respondents support some form of cannabis legalization.
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