Tennessee lawmakers are set to consider three cannabis-related bills next week, the Lynchburg Times reports. One bill, dubbed the Pot for Potholes Act, would legalize cannabis for adult use in the state and direct 75% of the revenues to the state highway fund.
The Pot for Potholes Act would send 20% of cannabis-derived revenues to counties, with the remaining 5% earmarked for administrative costs related to regulating the cannabis industry.
According to the Times, Tennessee has a $58 billion backlog in unfunded road projects, with traffic congestion costing residents an estimated $420 million and 17,000 hours annually.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bill on Monday. A similar bill introduced in the state last year was ultimately rejected.
Additionally, lawmakers will consider two bills that would put a medical cannabis legalization question to voters.
- SB.2097 would require the Secretary of State to direct each county election commission to place a ballot question before voters in the November general election asking whether the state should legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical cannabis.
- SB.0960 would place three non-binding questions related to cannabis legalization on November ballots, but the results would be purely advisory.
Under the proposal, the legislature would be under no obligation to act on the questions. Rather, the Secretary of State would compile the results, publish them online, and forward them to members of the General Assembly.
