Tennessee Lawmaker Wants to Nullify Local Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinances
NASHVILLE, TN A Republican lawmaker has filed a bill in the Tennessee legislature toprevent local communities from relaxing local marijuana laws and to nullify those ordinances that have already been passed in the states two largest cities.
State Rep. William Lamberth(R-Cottontown), a former Assistant District Attorney for Sumner County, filed House Bill 173 this week.
The intent of the bill is to overrideand nullify ordinances passed in the states two largest cities Memphis and Nashville that were passed late last year to partially decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The ordinances passed in both cities give local police the option of issuing $50 citations for those who possess up to a half-ounce of marijuana, instead of arresting and prosecuting an offender. Under state law, possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,500.
In November, thestates Office of the Attorney General wrote an opinion stating that the ordinances were unenforceable because they conflict with state drug laws. The opinion reads:
House Bill 173, if passed, would ban other cities ...
