MURFREESBORO, MARCH 5, 2018, Last Monday, I signed on to the Medical Cannabis Only Act. And on Tuesday, it passed the first hurdle which was the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Every chemical in cannabis is already legal in Tennessee right now. All chemicals except THC are grown at MTSU, and THC is dispensed as Marinol at pharmacies throughout Rutherford County and the state. So, the chemicals are in the state, but unfortunately, they aren’t necessarily able to be used in an effective medicinal form or be used together. The MCOA would allow the chemicals to be used together and is for OIL ONLY, and not flower or raw plant.
Overwhelmingly, doctors, pharmacists, and other constituents that speak to me are supportive of having the option of cannabinoids, especially in oil based form. Even most politicians who aren’t willing to go public or feel that they must vote “no” acknowledge that if they were in a position of need, they would want the option. Unfortunately, the swamp is still strong with fear mongering, cronyism, or a general lack of knowledge of the issue.
This week, my bills HB 1549, 1550, and 2002 made it through the committee process and will be on the House floor Monday night.
1549 helps decrease the burden on highly qualified teachers at they proceed from an initial 3 year license to their 6 year license. It has overwhelming bipartisan support.
1550 will allow Rutherford County to develop it own forensic autopsy center. As one of the fastest growing counties in the country, the center will help provide a valuable service to our county and surrounding counties.
2002 will clean up our code to allow a newly approved long acting medication to be used to treat opioid addiction. It will increase compliance, decrease diversion, and decrease relapse rates.
One item that I should bring to everyone’s awareness is that the House passed HB 2370 and I am a co-prime sponsor.
Currently, business or property owners have two options when it comes to firearms. They must either allow firearm carry permit holders to carry concealed or openly in their business or property, or they must post a sign that denies one to carry a firearm.
Some property owners would like a third option which is that a carry permit holder may carry, but the owners just want it concealed. HB 2370 will allow that option to occur. The bill increases the liberty and freedoms of both carry permit holders and property owners.
As many folks know, Rutherford County is looking at selling the landfill to Republic. Currently MiddlePoint has a life expectancy of 6-10 years. If Republic gets the adjoining Rutherford County Landfill and its base footprint, the lifespan of MiddlePoint landfill will most likely be extended an additional 15 years(21-25 years).
Here is an important point that everyone in the community needs to know. Wet sludge(human waste) has live bacteria, produces gas, and is responsible for much of the odor around the landfill. Currently, Murfreesboro and Smyrna send wet sludge to MiddlePoint. Based on the original contract, they are allowed to do so. The landfill in Clarksville is the ONLY other landfill that accepts wet sludge and they were given an exemption due to the flood damage to their drying facility. Clarksville has until the summer of 2019 to dry their sludge or they lose their permit.
Folks, that means that in 2019, Murfreesboro and Smyrna will be the only municipalities still delivering wet sludge and MiddlePoint will be the only landfill still accepting the wet sludge. As a community, how is that acceptable?
Representative Bryan Terry represents District 48 which is the eastern half of Rutherford County and can be reached at 615-741-2180 or vie email at Rep.Bryan.Terry@Capitol.TN.Gov.