Tennessee is one of nine states that has not legalized cannabis for any purpose, but there is a growing push for medical marijuana in the state. If the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) follows President Donald Trump’s guidance and reclassifies marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, it could pave the way for Tennessee to legalize medical marijuana.
Two Tennessee lawmakers who are also physicians, Rep. Bryan Terry and Sen. Richard Briggs, support doctor-prescribed medical marijuana. They believe that if the DEA reclassifies marijuana, it will gain traction in the state. Briggs stated that a doctor would be able to prescribe medical marijuana to patients with various disorders, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, and partial paralysis, and monitor how the drug interacts with other medications.
Polling indicates that a large majority of Tennesseans support legalizing medical marijuana, with over 81% in favor. Some lawmakers are also warming up to the idea, with House Majority Leader William Lamberth stating that federal reclassification resolves his objections to legalization in Tennessee.
If Tennessee were to legalize medical marijuana, it could be sold in pharmacies, similar to other prescription drugs. This would put dispensaries in other states out of business. Briggs believes that this would be a more controlled and regulated approach, as it would be done within the medical establishment.
The DEA is currently considering whether to reclassify marijuana, and formal hearings are scheduled to begin on June 29. The FDA will continue to oversee clinical trials and any efforts to approve cannabis-derived drugs, even if the DEA approves the rescheduling later this year.
Terry believes that medical marijuana could be beneficial for patients with legitimate diagnoses and dosing, particularly for seizure disorders, spasms from multiple sclerosis, and sickle cell crisis. He also believes that it could help decrease opioid use and ease nausea for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
The debate around medical marijuana in Tennessee is ongoing, with some lawmakers considering approving a select number of dispensaries to produce and sell the drug to customers with prescriptions. Others are open to a free market approach. Regardless, the push for medical marijuana in Tennessee is gaining momentum, and it could become a reality if the DEA reclassifies the drug.
