A bill introduced to legislators in Nashville aims to allow the legal purchase of medical marijuana in the state of Tennessee.
Under the Safe Access to Medical Cannabis Act, people with certain medical conditions could pick up marijuana with a prescription at their local pharmacy.
The bill specifies which medical conditions would qualify someone for marijuana use, how pharmacies would sell it and how producers and distributors would be licensed.
But even supporters say, the chance of the bill passing is a long shot.
Memphis attorney Clifton Harviel has defended clients in marijuana cases.
“It just seemed like the amount of time effort, energy and resources that were put into prosecuting him were disproportionate to the amount of damage he was doing to society,” Harviel said.
He supports the push to put marijuana in pharmacies.
“I think we see that there are instances where it has a medical use, and I think the doctors should be free to prescribe that without the intervention of a politician or a legislator of some sort,” said Harviel.
Former Fort Campbell soldier Chad Fowler is trying to persuade those politicians to pass the bill.
“I have got a herniated disc. I’ve got congenitive joint disease in my hips, my knees and my lower back,” Fowler said.
He says other drugs the military prescribed knocked him out. Now he uses marijuana.
“It would make me feel a lot better to know that I can go to the Walgreen’s that is right around the corner from my house to get my prescription, rather than have to sit in a parking lot and wait for someone to bring it to me,” said Fowler.
But opponents say the risks are too great.
“The problem with medical marijuana lies in the potential for abuse. We have seen that in California’s experience,” said state Representative Hank Fincher.
Even though Harviel doesn’t buy the argument, he doesn’t expect to see prescriptions for pot any time soon.
“Anything could lead to abuse of anything,” said Harviel. “Chances are about 80 to 20 of it not happening.”
The bill was introduced to the state house and senate last month. It has yet to go before a committee vote. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 14 states.
