TN bill to fully legalize marijuana effectively dead for 2022 legislative session

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Marijuana legalization is effectively dead this year at the State Capitol. That means Tennessee could be left behind as the states surrounding it are passing some form of cannabis legalization.

However, It’s no secret that Tennessee lawmakers have been reluctant to decriminalize and legalize marijuana.

“The issue of marijuana has been contentious and divisive up here for years and years,” said Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-Paris).

The last-ditch effort by Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) to enact cannabis legislation has reached its end in the House for this year, as he pulled the bill (HB 1968) from notice.

“There is a very real possibility that, by the time we come back next year, we will be the only state that touches Tennessee that has not done some sort of legalization,” Freeman said.

With the slow-moving process toward considering full legalization, Tennessee could be left out of the revenue marijuana could provide.

“Having debates with departments and other members, it was a nonstarter the amount of money that we were getting was not even relevant,” Freeman said.

According to the fiscal review of the bill, Tennessee could net between $65 to $130 million per year in revenue. [Read More @ WKRN]