Tagged With: Tennessee
Tennessee: Legislation Pending to Establish a Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Program
Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, are sponsoring the legislature’s most concerted effort to legalize medical use of marijuana. Under present law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $ 250 fine. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted … Continue reading
Tennessee: Support Measure To Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties
Legislation is pending in the House and Senate — SB 265 and HB 297 — to reduce penalties associated with the possession of one-eighth of marijuana (3.544 grams) to a fine-only offense. Under present law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $ 250 … Continue reading
Tennessee: Legislation Seeks to Nullify Citywide Decriminalization Ordinances
Legislation is pending in the Tennessee House, HB 173, to nullify the enactment of citywide marijuana decriminalization ordinances and to prevent additional municipalities from enacting similar marijuana reform measures. The intent of the bill is to override the passage of recent citywide measures in Nashville and Memphis — both of which passed local ordinances last year making … Continue reading
Tennessee: Cities Move To Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties
Members of the Nashville metro council and the Memphis city council have given final approval to municipal legislation providing police the discretion to cite rather than arrest minor marijuana offenders. Nashville city council members voted 35 to 3 in late September in favor of the new ordinance. It provides police the option of issuing $ … Continue reading
Tennessee: Measures To Reclassify Minor Marijuana Offenses Defeated
Legislation that sought to reduce marijuana possession penalties was unfortunately defeated this legislative session. House Bill 873 was previously passed by members of the Criminal Justice Committee on April 1st but members of the Finance Ways & Means Subcommittee and Committee failed to ever consider it. The companion Senate bill, Senate Bill 1211, was never considered by members … Continue reading
Tennessee: Legislation To Offer Citation Instead of Arrest Fails To Garner Support Before Session Ends
Lawmakers failed to pass legislation this legislative session that would have placed a referendum before voters this November to provide local law enforcement the option of citing rather than arresting adults who are caught in possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. House Bill 2310 was approved by members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on … Continue reading
Tennessee: Law Amends Felony Marijuana Penalties
Legislation signed into law amends felony marijuana possession penalties. House Bill 1478 amends third-time marijuana possession offenses from a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison, to a misdemeanor offense, punishable by no more than one year in jail. The new sentencing penalties take effect on July 1, 2016. You can read … Continue reading
Tennessee: Hemp Production Measure Signed Into Law
Legislation, HB 2032, permitting the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp has become law. The measure permits for the licensed cultivation of industrial hemp when “grown by an institution of higher education in this state that offers a baccalaureate or post-graduate level program of study in agricultural sciences.” Over 20 states have enacted similar legislation, … Continue reading
