The southern bible belt states will be the last areas in the US for legalization as well as even MMJ laws. I grew up in GA, the attitudes against marijuana by law enforcement, courts, and politicians are stronger in the southern states than any other region. Arkansas came close with their MMJ bill but still failed. The southern political gentry of old fashioned ,old line, good ol' boy southern baptist , southern establishment will resist marijuana laws being changed even resorting to unconstitutional and unethical tactics to preserve their "reefer madness ideology".
North Carolina lawmakers recently killed a MMJ bill in committee just because they were being "harassed" by their constituents over it.>
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/feb/21/north_carolina_medical_marijuana
THAT, will be pretty much the same attitude towards MMJ and legalization , be it in Tennessee or other states south of the Mason-Dixon line. Southern politicians will eventually accept it when the rest of states outside the south have all changed their laws allowing it. That North Carolina news story pisses me off. That particular North Carolina House Bill 84 was the best MMJ bill I've ever seen in what it allowed. In a lot of ways, it even exceeded what Colorado law allows. Colorado allows 6 plants and 2 ounces under the A20 MMJ bill and under the A64 recreational bill it's still only 6 plants but a 1 ounce limit. North Carolina's House Bill 84 allowed for a grow space up to 250 square feet and 24 ounces . There was no plant count limit in North Carolina's MMJ bill. House Bill 84 was a perpetual growers wet dream. In a few major ways, allowing more than even what Colorado allows.
State Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis) is the main sponsor for House Bill 294, concerning MMJ. A news article quote by her >
"Richardson says most of her colleagues in the legislature support the idea of legalizing medical marijuana, although she admits that some believe it would be political suicide to vote in favor of the bill. She hopes to change their mind, and that the late-session momentum will persuade her colleagues to support medical marijuana when they return after their re-election campaigns in the fall."
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2012/10946/tennessee-medical-marijuana-bill-dies-after-hearing/
I looked up Tennessee's House Bill 294 in what it allowed. It said - Registered qualifying patients shall be allowed to possess a reasonable
amount of cannabis, not to exceed one months supply, as determined by their
practitioner.
I didn't read anything about what is considered a "reasonable amount" or anywhere that allowed for home cultivation. I know some people think any MMJ bill is better than none at all, but New Jersey's MMJ bill is the worst MMJ bill I've ever read, it allows for NO home cultivation and I hate to see Tennessee follow a super restrictive MMJ bill like that. Though a person could grow a stealth set up, maintain a medical registration as a cover for being allowed possession and use but would still be subject to arrest for cultivation if ever busted. It costs A LOT of money being dependent on the prices of dispensaries and being forbidden to grow your own.
From the Tennessee House Bill 294 >
There shall exist a presumption that a qualifying patient is engaged in the
medical use of cannabis if the qualifying patient:
(1) Is in possession of a safe access program identification card; and
(2) Is in possession of an amount of cannabis that does not exceed the
amount permitted under this part. Such presumption may be rebutted by
evidence that conduct related to cannabis was not for the purpose of alleviating
the qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated
with the medical condition.
I've read the entire bill, the only cultivation that is allowed is by a "licensed producer" which is overseen by the agriculture dept.
SECTION 7.
(a) A licensed producer registered under this section may possess, cultivate,
harvest, and deliver cannabis or related products to a licensed distributor. Licensed
producers shall be under the direct supervision of the agriculture department.
This wreaks of the same b.s. restrictions that New Jersey's bill has. North Carolina's MMJ bill that was trashed is like night and day compared to Tennessee's MMJ bill.
New Hampshire's Governor Maggie Hassan has said she would support a MMJ bill but is concerned about home growing.>
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2013/15732/home-cultivation-may-stall-new-hampshire-medical-marijuana-bill/
The New Hampshire bill being pushed for has a 16 plant limit. With the economy being in the dump and rising medical expenses , a MMJ bill that forces MMJ registrants to buy from a dispensary is insulting when they could grow their own and wouldn't have to pay the robbing dispensaries . Reefer madness still has a stranglehold on too many politicians. That above news article mentions a Maine MMJ registrant with cancer who's spending $400 per month. The recently failed North Carolina House Bill 84 should be the master template for what all MMJ advocates should strive for.
I think if the North Carolina MMJ bill would've been on the Nov. 2012 voting ballot in NC , it might've narrowly passed. MMJ bills have a greater chance of passing in a presidential election year than off years because the younger voters come out. I predict that between now and the fall of 2016, more states will have passed MMJ and I think we will also see a couple more states pass recreational legalization bills further increasing the pressure of overall legalization by the time of voting in 2016, if the US hasn't had an economic crash by then.