MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL GOING UP IN SMOKE AGAIN

At least it's a graceful way out for advocates of legalizing medical
marijuana in Tennessee. In years past, lawmakers have snorted and
chuckled, maybe made a joke or two about stoners, then killed the
medical marijuana bill almost as fast as a committee chairman can
bang his gavel. Next week, it looks like this year's version could
go to the state Board of Pharmacy for a year of study. In Tennessee,
that's progress.

"We're moving the ball forward," says Rep. Jeanne Richardson, D-Memphis.

Under her legislation, which Jim Ridley wrote about in the Scene in
January, the state would license farmers to grow cannabis at tightly
restricted compounds, then sell prescribed doses through pharmacies
to alleviate the pain and suffering of the sick and dying. Tennessee
would join 14 other state-run medical-marijuana programs either
under way or in development in this country.

"Cheech and Chong smoking a bong--that is not what we're talking
about here. We're talking about compassion," Richardson told the
House Health and Human Resources Committee today. She proposed
amending her bill to send it to the pharmacy board next week.
Otherwise, the committee would have killed it. They can wait and do
that next year.