Medical marijuana bill gains momentum in Legislature

Legislation by state Rep. Jeremy Faison of Cocke County for “medical cannabis only” is actually making progress. Part is due to the articulate, intelligent and driven manner with which Faison is pushing this issue. State Rep. Bryan Terry, who is a doctor, is helping him.

Cannabis (marijuana) is picking up steam for people who are in pain. Thirty states have some form of legal cannabis use for significant, chronic pain. Faison wants opinion leaders to know that a majority of the 50 states already have it under a tight and regulated system.

This issue will be hotly debated. State Sen. Steve Dickerson, also a doctor, is the Senate sponsor.

Faison is a conservative who is working hard to make this legal and bring more lawmakers on board. Do not be surprised if this passes the House and goes to the Senate, where its prospects are improving. Clearly, this is an idea that is moving.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, 40, married Amanda Bunning, granddaughter of the late U.S. senator and baseball player Jim Bunning, on Jan. 13 in Lexington, Ky. Kelsey represents Germantown in Shelby County in the state Senate.

State Rep. Martin Daniel will hold a public meeting for constituents at Cedar Bluff Library on Thursday evening, Feb. 15, from 5:30 to 7. Daniel is one Republican incumbent who is reaching out to any citizen who wishes to speak to him. He held a prior meeting in West Hills last Feb. 8.

Daniel joined a group of lawmakers at the Executive Residence last week where Gov. Bill Haslam signed Daniel’s qualifying petition to run for a third term this November.

Knoxville businessman Scott Davis is the new chair of the Public Building Authority after the current chair rotated off. He was elected two weeks ago.

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UT Chancellor Beverly Davenport will travel to Naples, Fla., on Feb. 20 to escape the cold weather in Knoxville and have cocktails with UT alumni at the Grey Oaks Country Club.

It is not clear if she will have ended the suspension of former athletic director John Currie by then. Currie is still being paid a full salary (more than $50,000 a month) and benefits in week 10 after Davenport suspended him without an explanation. It is hard to ask for more donations to the university when UT has two people being paid to be athletic director but only one is working.

Davenport has not told UT alumni her plans for resolving the Currie issue. In government, it appears to be easy to spend money that is not yours.

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Davenport may stay a few extra days in Naples to enjoy the warm weather.

Debbie Poplin takes her oath of office as the new federal magistrate judge on Feb. 12, and John Medearis takes his oath of office as clerk of the court to succeed Poplin on Feb 13.

BIRTHDAYS: Feb. 11 – Retired coach Herky Payne is 89. Former state mental health commissioner Elizabeth Rukeyser is 74. Knoxville’s energetic attorney Mark Mamantov is 58.

Feb. 13 – New TVA board member Jeff Smith is 59.

Feb. 16 – Former city councilman Chris Woodhull is 59.

Feb. 19 – Knoxville attorney and former GOP county chair Bill Stokes is 66. Former Cumberland Securities executive Thomas Ayres is 84.

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