Hearing on Tennessee Medical Marijuana Act tomorrow

Published: April 12, 2005

The Tennessee Medical Marijuana Act (S.B. 1942), introduced by Senator Stephen Cohen (D-Memphis), will be heard tomorrow, April 13, in the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee. The committee convenes in room 12 of the legislative plaza in Nashville at 9:30 a.m., and the bill could be heard anytime thereafter. It's crucial that the committee hear from supporters of S.B. 1942 between now and tomorrow morning.

The committee is made up of five Republicans and four Democrats, but it is chaired by Democrat John Ford (Memphis). The battle in the committee will be a tough one, but with enough pressure, a victory is within reach.

Please take a few moments to call the committee members to tell them that you are a Tennesseean and that you strongly support S.B. 1942. Click here for talking points on medical marijuana. State senators rarely hear from voters, so a few polite phone calls can make a significant impact. Below is a list of the committee members.

John Ford, chair (D-Memphis) 615-741-3304

Diane Black, vice-chair (R-Gallatin) 615-741-1999

Rusty Crowe, secretary (R-Johnson City) 615-741-2468

Raymond Finney (R-Maryville) 615-741-2427

Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) 615-741-6806

Curtis S. Person, Jr. (R-Memphis) 615-741-2419

Roy Herron (D-Dresden) 615-741-4576

Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) 615-741-2374

Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) 615-741-4167

Once you've called the committee members, please take a moment to send a letter to your specific senator and to the members of the House subcommittee where S.B. 1942's companion (H.B. 968) will next be heard.

Also, if you are a patient or a health care professional and would like to testify on behalf of the bills, please e-mail ryan@mpp.org to make arrangements.

Please forward this list on to others in Tennessee and ask them to take a moment to call the committee members as well. A flood of phone calls and letters could be the difference between victory and defeat for medical marijuana in Tennessee this session.