Latest news with #Bill1413
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anti-hemp measure deprives Tennesseans with chronic pain of relief
Madison Nowak reaches into a cabinet at Cumberland Cannabis in Carthage to select a product for a customer. (Photo: John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout) I'm a Tennessean, a mother of three, and someone who lives with a complex, disabling pain condition. I'm also the CEO of a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the more than 51.6 million Americans who live with chronic pain. And right now, I'm deeply alarmed by Tennessee legislation that could strip away access to the thing that helps me — and thousands of others — get through the day: safe, full-spectrum CBD. House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 would limit even trace amounts of Delta-9 THC in hemp-derived products — effectively banning many full-spectrum CBD products that are non-intoxicating, carefully formulated, and third-party tested. While I support common-sense regulation to eliminate unsafe synthetic intoxicants and unregulated products from the market, this bill goes too far. Rather than protecting consumers, it threatens to harm more than 665,000 Tennesseans who rely on full-spectrum hemp CBD for relief. For people living with chronic pain, full-spectrum CBD is not a luxury — it's a lifeline. I've lived with pain for over 30 years due to a rare, chronic pain condition that causes widespread, burning nerve pain. The simplest tasks — standing, lifting my child, working a full day — can be nearly impossible without some form of relief. I've tried dozens of treatments, from prescription medications to physical therapy to surgical interventions. Some helped. Many didn't. Full-spectrum CBD is one of the few things that consistently makes a difference. It reduces inflammation, soothes muscle spasms, and takes the edge off my daily suffering. Every day, I use three specific full-spectrum products — a tincture, a topical, and an edible. They contain trace amounts of naturally occurring Delta-9 THC, well within the federal legal limit of 0.3%. These products don't get me high. They help me sleep. They help me show up for my job and be present for my family. They allow me to contribute to my community and care for my kids. Without them, I don't know how I would manage. Hemp bill conflict could fire up House, Senate finance committees And I am not alone. At the U.S. Pain Foundation, we regularly hear from individuals who face serious challenges in accessing the care and relief they need to manage chronic pain. Barriers like stigma, high costs, limited treatment options and restrictive policies often stand in the way. For some, hemp-derived CBD has become an essential part of their pain management plan, helping them live with greater dignity and less suffering. In fact, a national survey we conducted in 2022 found that 22% of respondents currently use hemp-derived CBD products — often alongside other therapies as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care. These individuals deserve access to the treatments that help them, free from unnecessary barriers. Science is catching up, too. Studies show CBD as a promising option for managing chronic pain, particularly neuropathic and inflammatory pain, due to its comprehensive therapeutic approach. Unlike isolated cannabinoids, full-spectrum CBD includes all naturally occurring compounds from the cannabis plant — such as a range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids — which work together to produce what's known as the 'entourage effect.' Recent research explores the potential benefits of various cannabinoids in pain management and emphasizes the role of synergistic interactions and the entourage effect, highlighting the importance of full-spectrum products in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. And yet, despite this growing body of evidence, Tennessee lawmakers are poised to remove this option from people who need it most. HB 1376/SB 1413 fails to distinguish between therapeutic, non-intoxicating full-spectrum products and the synthetic or recreational products that rightly raise concern. In doing so, it threatens the health, independence, and stability of thousands of Tennesseans living with pain. I was heartbroken to see the legislature pass this bill. But I still hold out hope — hope that rests now with Gov. Bill Lee. I've written to him personally, urging a veto. I ask my fellow Tennesseans — especially those who've never had to think twice about how they manage their pain—to consider what's at stake. This isn't about special treatment or backdoor legalization. It's about the right to access safe, plant-based wellness tools. It's about evidence-based public policy that doesn't punish people for trying to survive their conditions. It's about understanding that one-size-fits-all health care solutions often leave the most vulnerable behind. We are your neighbors, coworkers, veterans, and grandparents. We are Tennesseans who want to live productive lives despite our pain. Please don't take away one of the few tools that helps us do that. I hope Gov. Lee will veto HB 1376/SB 1413 and protect access to full-spectrum CBD. Preserve the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of people living with pain in Tennessee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TN legislation cracking down on hemp is a step backward for freedom and health
Tennessee's Hemp Crackdown: A Step Backward for Freedom and Health Tennessee conservatives champion limited government, personal freedom, and fiscal responsibility. Yet, House Bill 1376/Senate Bill 1413 threatens these values by imposing heavy-handed regulations on CBD, a safe, non-psychoactive hemp derivative. Used by Tennesseans to manage epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, insomnia, and autism symptoms, or even as a safe alternative to alcohol, CBD is a lifeline for many families. This bill restricts access, burdens law enforcement, and wastes taxpayer dollars–all while undermining the very principles conservatives hold dear. The bill bans online sales of hemp products, forcing Tennesseans to buy CBD in person from local retailers. The bill also slashes Tennessee's THC limit for hemp from the federal and internationally recognized standard of 0.3% – ensuring safe, non-intoxicating products–to an unreasonably restrictive and cost-prohibitive level, threatening access to trusted CBD. These serve to eliminate the convenience, privacy, availability, and reliability of purchasing from trusted national brands like Charlotte's Web, named for Charlotte Figi, a young girl whose severe epilepsy was alleviated by CBD. For rural Tennesseans, disabled individuals or veterans, or parents managing a child's epilepsy, this restriction is a significant hardship. Imagine a single mother in a small town, unable to drive to a specialty store, or a veteran relying on CBD for chronic pain, now forced to navigate less reputable local shops. By limiting choice, this bill strips away the personal freedom that Tennesseans value. Transferring CBD oversight from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission is a baffling choice. Most states regulate hemp through agriculture departments, as it's a plant-based product. Assigning this role to an agency tied to alcohol – a substance linked to over 3,000 deaths annually in Tennessee – creates a conflict of interest. CBD is a safe alternative for those reducing alcohol use, including recovering alcoholics and health-conscious Tennesseans who recognize the mounting evidence on the dangers of alcohol abuse. Forcing them to buy CBD in liquor or smoke shops risks temptation and undermines their recovery. The alcohol industry, which heavily influences Alcoholic Beverage Commissions nationwide, stands to benefit by stifling a competitor. This is government overreach at its worst, prioritizing special interests over Tennessee families. Tennessee's law enforcement and district attorneys are stretched thin combating violent crime, opioid overdoses, and drunk driving. Yet, this bill diverts their resources to policing a safe, non-psychoactive product with no documented public health threat. In 2024, Tennessee reported nearly 4,500 alcohol related traffic crashes and is one of the worst states in the nation for drunk driving–far more than any harm linked to CBD. By prioritizing this unnecessary crackdown, the bill misallocates taxpayer dollars and makes our communities less safe. The government should focus on real threats, not harmless products that help Tennesseans live healthier lives. Tennessee should be a leader in protecting personal freedom, promoting health, and using taxpayer dollars wisely. House Bill 1376/Senate Bill 1413 fails on all counts. By restricting CBD access, empowering special interests, and burdening law enforcement, it moves our state backward when other states are moving forward. It also makes our state a little less attractive as businesses and individuals flee states lacking economic and personal freedom. Lawmakers must reject this bill and preserve Tennesseans' right to safe, effective hemp products. Our families, veterans, and communities deserve better. Daniel J. Smith is the director of the Political Economy Research Institute and Professor of Economics at Middle Tennessee State University. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennesseans' choices are threatened with hemp legislation | Opinion
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hailing simple, positive measures in the General Assembly that can make a difference
Looking back at some less heralded but important bills. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Sometimes the best bills are straightforward and don't carry divisive baggage. That means they also don't get enough attention. So, I want to highlight some great legislation moving through the General Assembly. The first would eliminate a backlog of untested rape kits in Indiana by providing additional funding. This one is a no-brainer. The fact that women out there were raped, and the state just lets their case languish is frankly appalling. These women deserve justice and closure. House Bill 1413 would disperse $2.5 million to law enforcement agencies to process their backlog of untested rape kits, according to the Indianapolis Star. The money will pay for equipment that's sorely needed in the state's crime labs. The insufficient amount of equipment has led to the current six- to eight-month delay in testing, according to the bill's author, Rep. Becky Cash, R-Zionsville. The current proposed state budget includes the money, and my hope is the Senate agrees to keep it in. Also in the budget is a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products and adult diapers. The cost to state coffers is about $11 million but these are necessary items people need — just like food — and should not be taxed. And speaking of taxes, a newborn tax credit is a welcome move by lawmakers. Senate Bill 497, from Sen. Greg Walker, would provide a tax credit of up to $500 per newborn child. Eligible taxpayers would have an Indiana adjusted gross income at or below 720% of the federal poverty level. That is about $112,000 for a single person; about $152,000 for a family of two and about $231 for a family of four. A fiscal impact statement said each year, approximately 80,000 babies are born in Indiana, and around 3,000 adoptions are finalized. There are bills moving in both chambers that would exempt testing strips from drug paraphernalia statutes. Senate Bill 312 and House Bill 1167 both would allow Hoosiers to use items marketed to detect the presence of a drug or controlled substance, including field test kits and test strips. House Bill 1167's author, Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, said the strips can detect dangerous substances like fentanyl and xylazine. She said local health departments, nonprofit groups and others are distributing test strips to Hoosiers in active addiction, helping them avoid potentially lethal overdoses. Meltzer reintroduced the bill after it failed last year. This bill will save lives. Another bill would provide much-needed oversight on the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. CONTACT US Senate Bill 516 would require the quasi-public agency to tell local units of government about acquisitions of more than 100 acres — whether it's bought in one or multiple transactions — at least 30 days before those purchases close. This comes after the IEDC snapped up thousands of acres in Boone County for a massive innovation park before locals knew what was happening. The bill from Sen. Brian Buchanan also tasks the IEDC and the executives of communities that host innovation development districts — like one within LEAP — with annually compiling reports about the districts' activities over the last calendar year. The more transparent these projects, the more Hoosiers will be comfortable with them. And the last bill I will highlight is perhaps not one that is necessary but welcome — easing restrictions on wine delivery. Senate Bill 107 would allow Indiana's wine dealers to deliver wine directly to customers and would create an opportunity for gourmet wine businesses to deliver wine directly to a consumer's home or office. 'The luxury of convenience that was introduced as a necessity by the COVID-19 pandemic delivery services should be a luxury that is here to stay for customers and businesses alike,' said Sen. Ron Alting. 'SB 107 paves the way for wine dealers to deliver directly to customers, creating an equal chance for growth alongside liquor and beer vendors.' This list should show Hoosiers that most of the bills passed in the General Assembly are bipartisan in nature and helpful to Hoosiers. And I say cheers to that! SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
