This Sucks: Bill to Reform Harsh Tennessee Marijuana Sales Law Dies Lonely Death

Newsbrief: Bill to Reform Harsh Tennessee Marijuana Sales Law Dies Lonely Death

5/21/04


Under Tennessee law, selling a half-ounce of marijuana can get you up to six years in prison, and it's going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. State Sen. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) attempted the not-so-radical move of raising that amount to one ounce, but his bill to do so died because he could not get a single senator to second it in committee, the Nashville City Paper reported this week.

In the land of Elvis, possession of up to a half-ounce of pot is misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, but selling a half-ounce garners the same penalty as selling 10 pounds: one to six years in prison.

Cohen told the City Paper he made the proposal in the context of proposals to stiffen the state's penalties for methamphetamine possession to make them as tough as those for cocaine. Cohen, who said that marijuana ought to be legalized, added that his experience with the marijuana bill showed how hard it is to undo legislation already on the books. "It just shows, once you pass a bad law, it's difficult to change it," he said.


http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/338/tn.shtml