Federal changes could pave way for legal marijuana in Tenn.

NASHVILLE — The federal government is considering reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug.During a press conference Aug. 11, President Donald Trump said a decision would be made in the coming weeks.Marijuana has been federally considered a Schedule I substance since 1970, when the controlled substances act was signed. It places marijuana among other substances like LSD, heroin and ecstasy — all considered substances with high potential for abuse and little to no medicinal value.The move would reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance, joining ketamine and anabolic steroids as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.Changing the classification of the drug would not make it federally legal, but it will remove some restrictions to allow for easier research into the substance and change the way it is taxed in states where it has been legalized.It might also open a pathway to changes in Tennessee.Currently, Tennessee is one of 10 states that does not have any legal form of medical or recreational marijuana.But state Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, said he believes the state legislature is generally amicable toward the use of marijuana for medical reasons, although recreational legalization would still be a leap."I do think that most of the legislature probably says there is a decent, viable medical use for marijuana, but I don't think you're going to go any further," said Hulsey.Republican and Democratic legislators alike have introduced bills seeking to legalize marijuana either recreationally or medicinally.Last year, at least five bills were introduced to decriminalize or establish recreational or medical programs for marijuana in the state. None made it out of committees.A couple of bills heavily restricting the use of hemp-derived cannabinoids — substances similar to marijuana, but which have been legal since 2018 — passed last year and are set to take effect in 2026.According to polls, that leaves lawmakers behind the curve of the sentiments of most of their constituents. A poll conducted by Vanderbilt University last year found that nearly two-thirds of Tennessee voters supported cannabis legalization for recreational use — a much larger leap than making it available for medicinal use only.A greater portion of the state may be in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical uses. A change in how the federal government classifies the drug might put some traction behind those efforts.Hulsey said his personal opinion on the issue has changed drastically over the years. As a former police officer, he had seen cannabis intertwined with the many dangers of illicit drug trafficking.But Hulsey says he has seen marijuana used in place of far more dangerous drugs, such as opiates, which have wreaked havoc particularly on eastern-Tennessee and Appalachian communities.If the choice is between a doctor prescribing Oxycontin or marijuana, Hulsey is taking the pot."I don't know how I can justify the synthetic opiate, and not justify the marijuana," Hulsey said.