NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give patients who qualify access to medical cannabis.
The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act was introduced Wednesday and would provide access of medical cannabis to those with certain medical conditions. Which include cancer, epilepsy and opioid addiction.
It would also legalize the sale of the cannabis plant containing THC for medical purposes. This includes cannabis in the form of oils, edibles and forms of the plant that can be smoked.
You’re looking at the first republican lead medical cannabis bill in 2019.
— Kyle Horan (@KyleHoranNC5) February 6, 2019
State Senator Janice Bowling is behind the “Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act.”
We’re about to hear from her now. pic.twitter.com/VBtjtgFVcT
“The purpose of the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act is to increase low-cost public health options, alleviate suffering, develop agricultural 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 is sponsored by state senator Janice Bowling and state representative Ron Travis.
"I think that in a year or two, the feds will realize that medical cannabis should never have given the scheduling that it's been given where you can't even do research in the United States," said Bowling. "So, I think that it's just time. I think that people have opened their eyes to the truth. I think that the opioid crisis has created a crisis in healthcare that we've got to have an alternative to."
The bill would allow Tennessee farmers to produce the cannabis plant with THC contained in it.
The amendment says medical cannabis does not include hemp.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
