The Memphis City Council narrowly passed a measure Tuesday backing bills that are pending at the Tennessee Capitol that seek to change state laws governing cannabis.

State Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, has proposed a bill that would decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

The council voted 5-4 to send a message of support for legislation that would decriminalize cannabis possession statewide, if the amount of marijuana falls under a certain amount.

One bill proposal includes a provision allowing for someone who has a valid medical marijuana patient identification card issued in another state could possess marijuana if it's less than one-half ounce.

"If someone has a prescription from their doctor, they could go to Arkansas and seek treatment and not be treated as a criminal," Councilman Martavius Jones said.

Some council members voiced concern about backing a bill that could change before its final passage, while others said they have reservations about decriminalizing marijuana possession that goes beyond medical cannabis.

The measure follows a 2016 move by the council that allowed police to issue penalties for possessing a half-ounce or less of marijuana of a $50 fine or community service.

Nashville passed a similar measure around the same time, and both the Memphis and Nashville local laws were rendered moot when then-Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill that repealed local laws giving police more latitude with small marijuana possession citations.

Tennessee is one of 17 states where marijuana remains illegal under state law. In recent years, an increasing number of states have legalized medical marijuana, and 10 states, including California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Vermont, have legalized cannabis for recreational uses, despite the fact that it remains illegal under federal law.

Jamie Munks covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jamie.munks@commercialappeal.com. Follow her on Twitter @journo_jamie_.

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