Legislators introduce bill to allow cannabis oil treatments in Tennessee

January 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Two state legislators are continuing their push to allow the use of cannabis oil in Tennessee.

Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, and Rep. Jeremy Faison introduced the "Medical Bannabis Only Act of 2018" on Thursday. The legislation OKs the use of safe, regulated medical cannabis oil to treat specific health conditions.

“Now is the time for the General Assembly to embrace thoughtful, medically responsible legislation to help Tennessee’s sickest residents,” Dickerson said.

A poll conducted by Vanderbilt University showed that almost 80 percent of voters in Tennessee support cannabis oil as a treatment option. 

The specific health conditions in this bill include cancer; HIV/AIDS; Hepatitis C; ALS; PTSD; Alzheimer’s Disease; severe arthritis; Inflammatory Bowel Disease including Chron’s Disease and ulcerative colitis; multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s Disease; schizophrenia; and those suffering from seizures characteristic of epilepsy.

“Some of our sickest Tennesseans desperately want the freedom to choose what is best for their own health, and they want to be able to make that decision with their doctor,” Faison said. “Now is the time for a safe and healthy alternative to opiates, psychotropics and anti-inflammatories.”

Dickerson and Faison led a task force on medical cannabis this fall, which has drawn bipartisan support.

http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Legislators-introduce-bill-to-allow-cannabis-oil-treatments-in-Tennessee-470149683.html