Tennessee Democrats vote to support medical marijuana
Published: Nov 2, 2017, 7:51 am • Updated: Nov 2, 2017, 7:51 am
By The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Democrats have voted to support resolutions calling for the legalization of medical marijuana, wider health care coverage and a $15 minimum wage.
The state executive committee passed the resolutions aimed at expressing the positions of the state Democratic Party.
State lawmakers have been studying the issue of medical marijuana since the end of the last legislative session.
Related stories
- A hold-out Dixie state has set up a panel to consider medical marijuana
- Tennessee GOP gov candidate ‘open’ to medical marijuana
- Tennessee gov defers to legislature on preventing cities from reducing marijuana punishment
Executive committee member Gary Blackburn said there is a “growing body of research about the benefits” of medical marijuana, including for the treatment of chronic pain. He says changing the law could also help combat the opioid epidemic.
Executive Committee Member Gale Jones Carson of Memphis says raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour would help lift more Tennesseans out of poverty.
Topics: legalization, legislation, medical marijuana, Tennessee
