As a young dad in my early thirties, with a wife and kids, I think a lot about the future we’re building here in Tennessee. Our communities, our values, our safety—all of it feels precious, something we want to protect. The push to legalize medical marijuana has been a heated issue, and while I can sympathize with the idea of providing relief for those dealing with chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and other conditions, I can’t help but feel that this decision comes with a lot more baggage than it appears.
Let’s be real: once medical marijuana is legalized, the push for full recreational use usually follows. I saw this firsthand when I moved here from California. Back in ’96, California was the first to legalize medical marijuana, pitched as a compassionate move for people with serious health issues. But fast-forward a few years, and recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016. Now, California’s laws are some of the most relaxed in the country. But with those freedoms came some serious downsides. Illegal cannabis farms are rampant, cartels have a foothold, and the black market is thriving. Legalizing marijuana didn’t eliminate the black market—it grew alongside it.
States like Colorado and Michigan have faced similar issues. Since legalization, they’ve seen increases in marijuana-related DUIs, a rise in underage use, and a strain on law enforcement and public health services. A study from Colorado’s Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area found that traffic deaths involving marijuana have gone up since legalization, affecting not just users but innocent people on the road.
And make no mistake, if Tennessee opens the door to medical marijuana, the pressure to move toward recreational use will hit hard and fast. Look around Chattanooga—CBD stores are already all over town, primed to jump on this opportunity. The economic forces behind marijuana legalization are strong, and they’re not going to slow down once medical use is approved. More availability means more accessibility, including to teens and young adults who are at critical stages of brain development and are vulnerable to the effects of marijuana.
Tennessee stands out because we still hold strong to family values, safety, and healthy living. We’re one of the few states that hasn’t rushed down this path, and that’s something worth holding onto. The experiences in states like California, Colorado, and Michigan show us that medical marijuana is rarely the final step. More often, it’s just the beginning of something much harder to control. Let’s keep that door closed here in Tennessee
Jim Martin