There has been a significant development after Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is reviewing possible changes to federal marijuana laws.
Last summer, the 79-year-old president revealed that officials were considering lowering marijuana’s classification as a dangerous controlled substance. At the time, Trump said the administration was studying the issue carefully.
“We’re reviewing possible reclassification and expect to make a decision within the next few weeks,” he said. “It’s a complicated subject, but we want to reach the right conclusion.”
According to reports from NewsChannel 5 Nashville, lawmakers in Tennessee believe the potential federal change could revive efforts to legalize medical marijuana in the state after years of disagreement.
If cannabis were moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law, doctors could legally prescribe it. That shift could remove one of the biggest barriers that has blocked medical marijuana legislation in Tennessee for more than a decade.
Federal Decision Could Influence State Debate
The topic has long created divisions among lawmakers in the state legislature, including members of the Republican leadership.
Jeremy Faison has expressed support for allowing medical marijuana, while William Lamberth has traditionally opposed legalization.
However, Lamberth recently said the federal government’s review may address several of his previous concerns.
“My biggest objections are being addressed by what the federal government is doing right now,” he explained, referring to the possibility of rescheduling cannabis and allowing doctors to determine whether it has medical benefits.
Faison has also argued that marijuana could help people suffering from serious health conditions. He pointed to numerous personal accounts from patients who say they experienced relief after using cannabis-based treatments.
A Long History of Debate
Tennessee came closest to approving medical marijuana in 2018. At the time, Beth Harwell supported the proposal and cast a decisive vote in favor during a committee meeting.
Harwell argued that cannabis might provide a safer alternative to some commonly used pain medications.
Despite that support, the bill ultimately failed. Opposition from law enforcement groups was one of the key factors that prevented the legislation from moving forward.
Terry Ashe, representing the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, said at the time that authorities were obligated to enforce federal law as long as marijuana remained classified as a Schedule I substance.
Legalization in Tennessee may still take time. A bill currently before the Tennessee House would allow the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to examine how the state could implement medical marijuana and whether government agencies are prepared for it.
The study would help ensure the state has a framework in place if federal rules change.
"I don't know that our state, this General Assembly, is at a place where they're willing to open it up more than we're at right now. But I would say, moving forward, studying what other countries are doing," Faison said.
Still, some lawmakers believe progress is inevitable. "I would say within the next two or three years, you're going to see a framework set up here in Tennessee," Faison added.
Some democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), say the state has already waited too long. "About time, right? We are one of the outliers," Akbari remarked.
"We're way behind the rest of the country on this - including neighboring states," House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) added. "We certainly don't have to reinvent the wheel either, because so many other states have done it; we can adopt the best model that works for the state of Tennessee."
The Tennessee House is expected to debate the study bill later this week. If it passes, the commission’s final report would be due by November 1.
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