ABOUT TMCTA
The TMCTA is a coalition of Tennesseans advocating for legalization of medical cannabis in Tennessee. We are opposed to the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes.
Our mission is to provide a legal, transparent, safe, and accessible business environment to grow, process, and dispense medical cannabis to relieve the pain and suffering of medical patients.
Where Marijuana is Legal, Opioid Prescriptions Fall
Two new studies support this correlation
“In this time when we are so concerned—rightly so—about opiate misuse and abuse and the mortality that’s occurring, we need to be clear-eyed and use evidence to drive our policies,” said W. David Bradford, an economist at the University of Georgia and an author of one of the studies. “If you’re interested in giving people options for pain management that don’t bring the particular risks that opiates do, states should contemplate turning on dispensary-based cannabis policies.”
Utah has a new medical marijuana law — but not the one approved by voters in the recent election
On Monday, the first business day after Utah’s medical cannabis initiative became law, state legislators supplanted it with a more tightly controlled plan for providing marijuana-based treatment. Utah Governor Gary Herbert said he’s committed to implementing the legislation as quickly as possible.
STUDY SHOWS: Low Dose Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Improves Neuropathic Pain
A study published by the National Institute of Health: “We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluating the analgesic efficacy of vaporized cannabis in subjects, the majority of whom were experiencing neuropathic pain despite traditional treatment. Thirty-nine patients with central and peripheral neuropathic pain underwent a standardized procedure for inhaling either medium dose (3.53%), low dose (1.29%), or placebo cannabis with the primary outcome being VAS pain intensity. Psychoactive side effects, and neuropsychological performance were also evaluated.”
Board of Directors
Glenn Anderson, Executive Director
Glenn Anderson is the principal of Strategikon Ventures, specializing in education excellence and the advancement of science & technology. Anderson provides strategic maneuvering for organizations building cutting-edge economic ecosystems. He served 12 years in the Washington State Legislature. He was the state’s lead Republican for the legalization of medical cannabis. Previously, Anderson was an F500 corporate banker with Wachovia Bank, and an executive management consultant to CEOs for strategic initiatives. Anderson recently returned to Tennessee to be closer to his family, with deep Tennessee roots all the way back to the founders of Smith and Putnam Counties.
Jeff Livingston, Board President and Chairman
Jeff Livingston is the CEO of the Urban Development Group, LLC, with business operations in Tennessee, Florida, and California. His firm specializes in urban redevelopment and affordable housing. As an investor, Livingston looks for opportunities that build a real sense of community and connection. Originally from Ventura, California, Livingston has history of being a successful bootstrap entrepreneur in home and auto maintenance services, internet real estate services, and home construction. In 2007, Livingston moved to Tennessee to take advantage of its growth potential and the strong sense of community. He credits the strong Christian values of his parents with providing him an example of character, initiative, and hard work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
During the last 20 years, 33 states representing two-thirds of the U.S. population have enacted medical cannabis programs, including deep-red states such as Oklahoma, Utah and Missouri. No state has ever repealed its program.
How does the Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma)/ Rep. Ron Travis (R-Dayton) Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act (SB 486/HB 637) regulate access to adults?
The proposal would allow patients with certain qualifying conditions diagnosed by their health care provider to obtain a medical card from an independent oversight commission. The commission would validate the patient diagnosis with the health care provider and issue the patient a medical ID card. The patient could then access medical cannabis from any authorized dispensary within the state. Health care providers are not required to prescribe medical cannabis for patients to access. This allows patients a treatment choice for any qualifying condition.
Does the bill allow medical cannabis businesses to market to children?
No. The legislation puts specific controls on testing, packaging, labeling and marketing, including child-proof packaging, how cannabis products can be represented to the public and where and how the products can be sold and consumed. Minors, under 18, with a qualifying condition may not purchase it, and they are required to have an adult caregiver to use a medical cannabis product.
Do medical cannabis programs lead to increased teen use in state?
State laws allowing medical cannabis have not led to increased teen use, according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Do states with medical cannabis see more traffic deaths?
Legalization of medical cannabis is not linked to increased traffic fatalities, according to a study from the American Public Health Association.
Would it be legal to drive under the influence of medical cannabis in Tennessee if this legislation passes?
No.
Would business monopolies for licenses to cultivate, process and dispense be allowed in Tennessee under this proposed program?
No. Initially, there would be 24 state-issued business licensees; 12 urban licenses divided equally between the four major urban areas (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby counties) and 12 rural licenses divided equally between the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee. This allows entrepreneurs across the state a level playing field to participate, if they meet license application requirements. All licensees will have to meet uniform consumer product safety standard testing requirements. All licensees will be required to provide a ‘seed to sale’ inventory tracking system to support law enforcement efforts against diversion to illegal activity.
Would only Tennessee farms and farmers be able to grow for the program?
Yes, medical cannabis would be grown by Tennesseans for Tennesseans.
Tennessee is already battling an opioid crisis. Why allow medical cannabis now?
Allowing medical cannabis is a proven opportunity for Tennessee to fight its debilitating opioid crisis. Studies published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that states with medical programs (1999-2010) experienced an average 24.8 percent drop in deaths from opioid overdose. A 2018 study also published by JAMA, reviewing Medicare Part D records, showed an average 14 percent drop in opioid prescriptions in states allowing medical cannabis purchases.
How many people have died from a cannabis overdose?
Zero. Even the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) admits there is no recorded case of an overdose death from cannabis.
Shouldn’t we wait for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve cannabis for medical use?
The FDA cannot independently conduct a review of medical cannabis without a request from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Cannabis is a DEA Schedule I controlled substance, falling under the federal 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Under the Act. the DOJ must request that the FDA review studies and conduct tests of a controlled substance if it is to be rescheduled. The FDA is then authorized to conduct that research and provide its recommendations. Under the Act the DoJ must accept the FDA’s findings and then begin the rescheduling process.
If the FDA were to independently conduct a review, it would have no effect. The DOJ would not be obligated by those findings to reschedule cannabis since they did not request such a scientific review.
Has cannabis been studied?
There are 978 studies of the impact of cannabis on 184 medical conditions. There are 60 peer-reviewed scientific studies that would qualify for formal FDA clinical trials, if the DOJ requested the FDA to do so.