As Tennessee lawmakers begin discussions about possibly allowing medical marijuana in Tennessee, the top-tier candidates seeking to replace Gov. Bill Haslam have vastly different opinions.

While legalizing medical marijuana in Tennessee has been brought up in the legislature several times in recent years, House Speaker Beth Harwell, who announced her run for governor in July, made headlines when she said she was open to the idea.

Last month, Harwell said a treatment using marijuana for her sister's back injury caused her to reconsider whether the Volunteer State should embrace medical cannabis, the Associated Press reported.

The USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee surveyed all seven top-tier candidates to get their views on medical marijuana after Harwell's comments.

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In the survey Harwell said she supports medical marijuana if it is properly regulated.

"I believe it could be used as a tool to provide relief for certain intractable pain situations, and that it could potentially be an alternative to highly addictive medications like opioids," she said.

Dean, Fitzhugh in favor

Joining Harwell in supporting making medical marijuana available in Tennessee are former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh.

"If the medical profession says there are identifiable, concrete reasons why medical marijuana could help with someone's care, I think use should be permitted," Dean said.

"I certainly would not want state government to stand in the way of someone receiving relief from their suffering if there is medical evidence and medical professionals supporting the treatment."

Fitzhugh said he would support a policy that defers to physicians on the practice of medicine.

“Any such policy would have to include seed-to-sale controls and barcode tracking. The crops must be cultivated in Tennessee, taxed properly, and the law must prohibit the purchase or sale of these products across state lines," he said.

Disagreement among Republicans

While both Democratic candidates agree on the issue, there's wide differences among the five top-tier Republicans in the race.

Williamson County businessman Bill Lee said he will listen to law enforcement and the medical community while forming his position.

Former state Sen. Mae Beavers cited the federal government's refusal to embrace medicinal or recreational marijuana to say she would not favor either. "I hope the legislature won't be 'duped' into supporting 'dope' based on a smokescreen of 'medical' concern. As Governor I certainly won't be fooled,” she said.

U.S. Diane Black said no scientific research exists that shows the medical benefits of smoking marijuana.

Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd said any potential use of medical marijuana should go through testing and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Other thoughts on marijuana

Lee called for further evaluation of the state's current law that allows limited use of non-smokable cannabidoil.

Cannabidoil is an extract of marijuana that can be used to treat epileptic seizures that does not contain any psychoactive elements.

Among the questions that Lee said need to be answered are how law enforcement is impacted by the current law, how doctors have integrated it into their work and whether it is working for patients.

Both Beavers and Black said marijuana is a "gateway drug" — the idea that using cannabis can lead people to other harder drugs.

Earlier this year, Americans for Safe Access, a Washington, D.C.-based organization, successfully pressured the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to remove marijuana from its list of “gateway drugs” on the agency’s website.

When asked if medical marijuana could be used to fight the opioid epidemic the country is facing, Black said: "The answer to fighting illegal drug use is not more drugs."

Beavers said the country needs to deal with one drug distribution crisis before creating another.

When asked whether the state's existing penalties for possession of marijuana are adequate, Black said she supports the current law that makes the sale of a half-ounce of marijuana a felony.

Although city councils in both Memphis and Nashville earlier this year approved measures to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, the state legislature passed a law to negate the actions of the local governments.

Fitzhugh called for lawmakers to revisit the issue of decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.