Tennessee’s Senate Bill 489, known as the Medical Cannabis Act, is scheduled to be discussed and potentially receive a vote in its committee of origin on February 25.
Sponsored by State Senator Janice Bowling (R) and filed on January 29, SB 489 has been scheduled for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee during their February 25 meeting that begins at 3pm CST. The committee’s placement on the calendar means that it will be discussed by members, and potentially receive a vote.
If enacted, the bill would legalize the possession, use and licensed distribution of medical cannabis, with rules and licensing handled by a newly-created Medical Cannabis Program Commission. This would make Tennessee the 40th medical marijuana state.
In order for an individual to become a registered patient, they would need to have a qualifying condition and receive a recommendation from a physician. Qualifying conditions include:
(A) Cancer;
(B) Glaucoma;
(C) Epilepsy;
(D) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS);
(E) Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
colitis;
(F) Multiple sclerosis;
(G) Opioid addiction;
(H) Renal failure;
(I) Severe nausea or chronic pain;
(J) Any medical condition producing cachexia, persistent muscle spasm,
or seizures;
(K) Post-traumatic stress disorder;
(L) Chronic radiculopathy;
(M) Severe psoriasis;
(N) Post-laminectomy syndrome;
(O) Psoriatic arthritis;
(P) Complex pain syndrome, including trigeminal neuralgia, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease;
(Q) End-of-life pain management or palliative care;
(R) Traumatic brain injury (TBI);
(S) Tourette syndrome;
(T) Autism spectrum disorder;
(U) Fibromyalgia;
(V) Sickle cell disease;
(W) Cerebral palsy;
(X) Cystic fibrosis;
(Y) Osteogenesis imperfecta;
(Z) Muscular dystrophy;
(AA) Terminal conditions; and
(BB) Any additional conditions approved by the commission pursuant to
rulemaking;
If passed into law, the proposal would take effect on July 1, 2025.
