State Senator Janice Bowling of Tullahoma and Rep. Ron Travis say they will introduce comprehensive legislation to regulate access to medical cannabis.

The proposal would allow qualified patients to obtain medical cards if they are diagnosed with specific medical conditions and purchase products from companies that are licensed by Tennessee and owned by Tennesseans to cultivate, process and dispense cannabis.

Since 1973 when the first state voted to de-criminalize cannabis, 33 states have approved medical cannabis programs. Around two-thirds of Americans now have access to medical programs and no state has repealed a medical program.

The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Trade Association (TMCTA) endorses the Bowling-Travis bill, which is expected to be introduced formally within the next few weeks.