Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 2010
Source: Nashville Scene (TN)
Copyright: 2010 Nashville Scene
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Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2409
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Author: Jeff Woods

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL GOING UP IN SMOKE AGAIN

At least it's a graceful way out for advocates of  legalizing medical 
marijuana in Tennessee. In years  past, lawmakers have snorted and 
chuckled, maybe made a  joke or two about stoners, then killed the 
medical  marijuana bill almost as fast as a committee chairman  can 
bang his gavel. Next week, it looks like this  year's version could 
go to the state Board of Pharmacy  for a year of study. In Tennessee, 
that's progress.

"We're moving the ball forward," says Rep. Jeanne  Richardson, D-Memphis.

Under her legislation, which Jim Ridley wrote about in  the Scene in 
January, the state would license farmers  to grow cannabis at tightly 
restricted compounds, then  sell prescribed doses through pharmacies 
to alleviate  the pain and suffering of the sick and dying. Tennessee 
would join 14 other state-run medical-marijuana  programs either 
under way or in development in this  country.

"Cheech and Chong smoking a bong--that is not what  we're talking 
about here. We're talking about  compassion," Richardson told the 
House Health and Human  Resources Committee today. She proposed 
amending her  bill to send it to the pharmacy board next week. 
Otherwise, the committee would have killed it. They can  wait and do 
that next year.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart