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For roads or people?
- phsnewspaper.com
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
By: Isabella Pena
In the Tennessee General Assembly, SB2440, or HB2525, if you want to search for the legislation yourself, was proposed as a way to generate funds to repair roads. This is not a new proposal; it has been previously brought up and struck down under legislation called HB0703. Originally sponsored by state Senator of District 12 Heidi Campbell, the original legislation proposed to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over, with a 15% tax on each purchase. Most of the collected money would be used to fund transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges, with some of the leftover going to the local government.
The new version of the bill is largely the same, with a new sponsor, Representative Aftyn Behn of Knoxville, along with the original sponsor, Campbell. Interestingly, there is now also a website and a petition for the legislation. Those in support cite other states that have enacted similar legislation, which includes about half of the U.S. states that have legalized the plant for medicinal or recreational purposes. Massachusetts is commonly referred to in relation to this bill specifically because of its similarities to Tennessee.
Although there is still opposition, especially from House Majority Leader William Lamberth, concerns are held for Tennesseans' health and the possible worsening of drug abuse across the state if marijuana were to be legalized. The controversy comes from the legalization of marijuana, which is often viewed as a harmful drug that leads to addiction and safety risks for others. It is a unique perspective to have on not just the drug itself, but on utilizing it to generate profit to benefit our roads and make our driving experiences safer as a whole.
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