A bill to decriminalize medical marijuana was defeated in the House on Tuesday. But the sponsor of the bill says the effort is not dead yet for the year.

The House Criminal Justice committee voted down the bill 9-8, following two hours of debate and various appearances by legal officials and top parliamentary officials.

There are still two other bills for medical cannabis. The General Assembly is expected to conclude its business for the year next week. During this time, last-minute negotiating plays a role in the session. One of the other two bills still has a chance to make it through.

Representative Bryan Terry and Senator Becky Massey have worked together throughout the process to advance the medical cannabis bills. While working together the bill has advanced further than any similar legislation has previously made it in Tennessee.

Sen. Massey’s bill cleared the Senate committees and should be up for a floor vote. But it appears officials in the upper chamber are waiting for the House committee to vote on it.

Unfortunately, Governor Bill Lee has remained opposed to marijuana legalization of any kind, even for medical use. “Generally speaking, I’ve been opposed to medical cannabis, and I still am,” said Lee.

The House Debates

During debates, Rep. David Hawk said that the bill needs to be discussed more in depth. So he made a motion to send it to a summer study. In response, Rep. Michael Curcio, who is the chair of the committee, used his position to put down the effort by a voice vote. With the overwhelming support to turn a summer study down. “I could not more vehemently oppose a motion to summer study,” said Curcio. “We cannot wait.”

Unexpectedly Rep. Jerry Sexton supported the legislation saying that he felt the need to do something.  He pointed to a boy, T.J. Ramsey, who is in a wheelchair and suffers from epileptic seizures due to cerebral palsy. T.J. needs access to medical cannabis products to help manage his condition.

“I feel the need for us to not let it [the bill] die,” Sexton said.

Many other people came out in support of the bill. But there were also many people representing law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, and the governor’s office who opposed the bill.

Ultimately the bill did not pass, in a narrow vote of 9-8, the bill was defeated.

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