In yet another sign that the day is coming when you’ll be able to get a Tennessee Marijuana Card, the state’s cannabis commission will soon give its recommendations on expanding access to medical marijuana in the Volunteer State.
WTVF, Nashville’s ABC affiliate, reports that the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission will soon present recommendations to the state legislature as to how to best get patients access to medical marijuana.
According to WVTF, one of the issues being considered by the commission is whether to permit Tennesseans to legally purchase medical marijuana in nearby states that have already established legalization laws, so that Tennesseans can find out for themselves if they think medical marijuana is right for them.
Law Enforcement Concerned About Public Safety
WVTF notes that the commission has been hearing from law enforcement personnel who are concerned about unintended consequences to public safety should medical marijuana be legalized here.
For example, on Friday, December 10, the commission heard testimony from Mike Lyttle, of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who noted the medicine’s potential to impair driver safety.
According to WVTF’s coverage, Lyttle warned the commission that “You can take prescription drugs, things like Xanax or Valium where you should not be driving a motor vehicle, you can take over the counter drugs like Benadryl and not be safe to operate a motor vehicle. Same thing [is] true for cannabis.”
Some Law Enforcement Concerns Seem Inconsistent
It was unclear from WVTF’s coverage if Lyttle was suggesting that Xanax, Valium, and Benadryl should be banned substances for effecting drivers in a way similar to medical marijuana, or if it’s only a public danger to have drivers be potentially impaired by cannabis.
WVTF did give some reasons to take law enforcement’s concerns here with a grain of salt. The station’s coverage noted that “Law enforcement often points to places like Colorado to show the impact of legalization,” protesting that marijuana related DUI arrests have gone up significantly since the state legalized adult use marijuana in 2012.
However, as WTVF notes, after recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado, the state expanded efforts at training officers to spot drivers who were under the influence of cannabis. Consequently, the subsequent increase in arrests could be attributed to improved training, and might not necessarily be the result of increased and reckless cannabis usage. The station also notes that marijuana related arrests overall have declined by 70% since 2012.
Medical Marijuana Genie is Out of the Bottle, and It’s Not Going Back
Regardless of law enforcement concerns, advocates point out that thirty-six states have now welcomed medical marijuana, and they say there is no point now in resisting the trend, and energies should instead be focused on making access safe and convenient.
“It's not possible to put that genie back in the bottle with the widespread availability of cannabis either as a medicine or a recreational drug,” David Hairston, of the cannabis advocacy group Safe Access Tennessee told WTVF. “We need to find a graceful way for law enforcement to exit that and for us to protect the patients in Tennessee which is what we should've been doing all along.”
What Happens Next with Medical Marijuana in Tennessee is Still Unknown
No matter what the commission recommends, the legislature is not obligated to accept its report, and as WTVF warns, the commission will “make a recommendation to the state, but with so much effort already made in the past, it's unclear what will happen.”
One thing that is clear to us is that a real medical marijuana law will come to Tennessee eventually. It’s just a matter of time before the state has no choice but to admit that the days of prohibition are over.
Get Ready for Medical Marijuana’s Arrival Right Now!
And while you may have to wait for the state legislature to get with the times before you can legally get medical marijuana here, you don’t have to wait a minute longer to prepare for the medicine’s inevitable arrival in Tennessee.
Reserve a medical marijuana evaluation today with one of our compassionate, knowledgeable doctors, and we’ll book an appointment for you just as soon as Tennessee’s medical marijuana market is up and running.
You’ll meet with your new doctor virtually, using your computer or smartphone for a telemedicine appointment. Together, you’ll discuss your condition and how medical marijuana might help you. You’ll find out from the comfort of your own home if you qualify for a Tennessee Marijuana Card, and you’ll even save $25 off the cost of your evaluation!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Tennessee Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 781-5611, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Tennessee Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information!
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