Posted on 12/01/2017 4:34:22 AM PST by JP1201
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The idea of legal medical cannabis or marijuana appeared to gain another conservative Republican convert on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill Thursday.
“The era of Reefer Madness is over,” said Rep. Bob Ramsey, who referenced the 1930s cult movie about the perceived dangers of marijuana.
Ramsey is one of the legislative members on the medical cannabis task force which held its last meeting today before the Tennessee General Assembly begins its yearly session in January.
“The sponsors as I see it have developed the best bill that has been developed in the United States,” added Ramsey, who said he initially was reluctant to serve on the task force.
One of those sponsors and co-chair of the task force is Rep. Jeremy Faison, who has become a passionate advocate for legal medical cannabis.
“Some of my friends go to the drug store for help. Some go to the liquor store. Some go to natures store. The liquor store and the drug store kill way more,” Rep. Faison detractors at the task force meeting.
Among those in the packed room was a young man who served as an infantryman in Iraq.
Matt Walczyk would like to see medical cannabis available to help former soldiers like himself who struggle with post- traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
PTSD causes paranoia. Its one of the main symptoms and you have these individuals who have to go into the criminal element just to find their medication,” said the former soldier.
Those needing convincing about medical marijuana include most law enforcement officials, but the co-chair of the task force had some words for them.
“Law enforcement we love them, but they are wrong on this one,” said Rep. Faison told News 2. “They are supposed to enforce law not dictate law, hope your listeners understand that. We pass laws not law enforcement.”
Faison said he expects an “avalanche of testimony” on both sides of medical marijuana issue when the session begins.
Other testimony Thursday included an Arkansas lawmaker who is putting that state’s medical marijuana program together after voters approved it last year.
For your interest.
Where’s Ron Ramsey when you need him?
“PTSD causes paranoia.”
So does Marijuana.
If I was a conspiracy guy, I'd say big pharma is behind legalization. Politicians get the taxes and every new schizophrenia case is a life long customer.
Note to employers in TN: If weed’s made legal in TN, good luck finding employees who can pass a drug test. And even if you’re OK with hiring a pothead, I’d be willing to bet your insurer/s won’t be. It’s gonna suck to be you.
He is probably referring to pain relief. The problem is going beyond pain relief to getting stoned all the time. 99/100 people using drugs including opiates are using them for pain relief, not to get high or drunk or stoned. Opiates can be a happy pill but that's normally due to getting rid of the pain. At least when taken properly.
When people use pot or consume excessive amounts of alcohol, they are mostly doing it to create a blur. There may be a psychological need to do that but it's not healthy.
Yes it can. As do other ‘ legal’ drugs
Also state medical marijuana is fine but by registering for it you break federal laws thereby making gun ownership illegal. This has affected many people already. Only a federal law permitting medical marijuana would negate this.
“If I was a conspiracy guy, I’d say big pharma is behind legalization”.
I think so too. All about the money.
Where is (NORML’s) Ramsey Clark when you need him?
And Big Tobacco. They have exactly what is needed to market and distribute MJ/THC products. States want the tax revenue to replace declining tobacco revenue too.
creating more “need” for Rx drug use and more medical issues from possible injuries to self or others. there is nothing approved that doesn’t have ability to line someone or some industries pockets. it’s the distorted glasses our country’s leaders have been looking thru for decades once they broke the original pair.
While visiting friends in Washington, I was given an “edible” that was said to alleviate the symptoms from arthritis. Problem is, with vicodin I can at least work, go outside and function a bit. With the edible, I had to stay inside since I got pretty high from it. It was actually a good feeling, but if I needed to be somewhere for something, that was out of the question.
Note to employers in TN: If weed’s made legal in TN, good luck finding employees who can pass a drug test.
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Lol!!!
Heck no one in this state can pass a drug test now due to all the pills in this state...
“So does Marijuana.”
Only if you use too much of it.
FWIW, I know a lot of small business owners with some very big hiring problems. And they don’t find this subject funny.
Just sayin’. :-)
“Matt Walczyk would like to see medical cannabis available to help former soldiers like himself who struggle with post- traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).”
try Jesus, not some weed or Rx even. Nothing God created or allowed that He cannot fix if you ask and do your best in the mean time til He responds. Also healing is not instantaneous most times, it’s a process of letting God change you with growing and bettering yourself and discipline changing habits, doing the right thing, not just leaning on drugs or surgery or someone else to cure it.
many people will miss out on God’s best because they bought into traditional medical system which leans on the seen and the body and to some degree the mind, rather than on the Spirit of God and it’s awesome power and the fact we have a huge spiritual component to our being and it can be influenced satan, self or God and our choice in the spiritual makes a huge difference in our healing or living with illness of any sort.
“It is interesting that even as the body of proof grows linking mj use to later schizophrenia, government is relaxing the laws concerning its use.”
What “body of proof”? It’s against federal law to do research on cannabis in America.
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