Faison to head medical marijuana legalization panel in Tennessee

Faison and Dickerson are two of the eight Republicans selected from both the House and Senate to study, evaluate, analyze and undertake a comprehensive review regarding whether the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes is in the state’s best interest.

The group will also make recommendations about future legislation to members of the Tennessee General Assembly during the upcoming 2018 legislative session.

In a news release, Harwell said, “Faison has demonstrated his passion about this critical issue during his time serving as a member of the Tennessee General Assembly. We are fortunate to have him as a part of this important committee, and we appreciate his willingness to examine additional ways we may be able to improve the quality of life for citizens of this state.”

Dickerson and Faison have introduced the Medical Cannabis Act of 2017, which was designed to give patients with around 12 qualified conditions access to cannabis medicine. But critics were concerned that the bill was nothing more than a gateway to full legalization.

Reports indicate that the goal of the new study is to provide the General Assembly with guidance on how to establish a comprehensive medical marijuana program. There has been much discussion over the matter ever since Harwell, a Republican candidate for governor, said she was open to a policy that allowed medical marijuana.

According to a recent Tennesseans for Conservative Action poll, 52 percent of the state’s voters are in favor of medical marijuana.

In 2015, Faison successfully helped usher in legislation that legalized the use of cannabis oil in Tennessee by patients who suffer from seizures. Some say, though, that the law is too restrictive for others who may benefit from medical cannabis.

Faison said he hopes to makes changes to not only make it easier for patients who could benefit from medical cannabis to obtain it, but to also make it legal for farmers to grow the plants for researchers and laboratories to study it.

“When our Tennessee farmers can grow the cannabis plant and our Tennessee labs can examine and test what we have and get it to the sick Tennesseans — then I feel that will be a success,” Faison said last week.

“If you buy a certain level of cannabis — whether you buy it in Memphis or in Mountain City — I want it to be the exact same thing and you have an expectation of what you are buying and know the dosages that you are getting and how much you are suppose to take,” he explained. “Not only do I want our Tennesseans who are sick to benefit, but I want our farmers and our business people to benefit as well.

“I have always been a strong advocate for the legalization of medical cannabis during my time serving our residents,” Faison said. “My fellow committee members and I are eager to learn more about the possible benefits of medical cannabis for those who seek an alternative method to treat their illnesses or manage their pain.”

The task force committee has scheduled public meetings on the issue within the next three months in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. The first will take place next month in Memphis, Faison said. Additional details will be provided at a later date as to the dates, times and locations of each meeting.

Faison said that his goal as co-chairman of the medical cannabis task force is to bring in doctors with patients who are currently breaking the law by using medical cannabis.

Among the medical providers that Faison said he has asked to testify before the committee is Dr. Kevin Ess, the chief pediatric neurologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Faison said he spoke with Ess last month and was told that he has “hundreds of children,” including some pediatric patients from Greene County, who are successfully using cannabis to control epileptic seizures.

“He is willing to come and testify to the viability of [medical cannabis] … No. 1 that it is safer than the average prescription drug that he has to prescribe to a patient with epilepsy, and it’s working,” Faison said.

Another physician that Faison said has agreed to testify before the medical cannabis committee is Dr. John Daniel, of Johnson City, who has numerous patients who are veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and use medical cannabis to help them cope with the mental health disorder.

“We have men and women who have given the best of their health and the best of their emotions and the best of their lives to defending us,” the state representative said. “They have come back from the Middle East — where they have seen some crazy things — and they’re struggling … and the VA has put them on an immense amount of psychotropic drugs.”

In addition to Faison and Dickerson, other members of the panel include: Republican lawmakers Sheila Butt, Bob Ramsey, Sam Whitson, Richard Briggs, Rusty Crowe and Joey Hensley, as well as Democrats Arums Akbar and Jeff Yarrow.

“We’ve got some naysayers on purpose on this committee, that we’ve formed,” Faison said. “I hope that they see that this is not about pot-heads being able to roll up a joint. This actually has to do with a healthy botanical that is a great benefit to a lot of sick Tennesseans.”

Faison said the panel will also hear from representatives of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Health — whom he said disagree with what he is trying to do.

“We’ll have a very open discussion,” Faison noted. “I’d say it’s going to get pretty lively, but we’re going to have an intellectually honest conversation as to the benefits of this plant.

Faison lives in Cosby and represents House District 11, which includes Cocke and parts of Jefferson and Greene counties. He can be reached by email at Rep.Jeremy.Faison@capitol.tn.gov or by calling 615-741-6871.

credit:420intel.com