Tennessee
Cannabis in Tennessee: What push to reclassify marijuana to Schedule III may mean
Medical marijuana found to treat depression, anxiety and improve sleep
A new study has found medical marijuana can help treat those diagnosed with depression, anxiety and improve sleep.
The Drug Enforcement Agency could move to reclassify marijuana to a lesser severity in what’s being reported as the “biggest change in marijuana policy” since the drug was first outlawed.
The proposal, first reported by The Associated Press, would follow a Department of Justice recommendation and lead the DEA to take public comments on a plan to recategorize marijuana, USA TODAY reports.
In this reclassification, marijuana would move from a Schedule I drug which is believed to be highly dangerous, addictive and not for medical use to a Schedule III drug that can be lawfully prescribed as medication. Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the Controlled Substances Act was signed in 1970 by President Richard Nixon.
Here is what we know about the reclassification.
What does rescheduling cannabis mean for Tennessee?
While this would be a landmark change, it would not change the state’s current cannabis regulations. It would still be a controlled substance even with the new classification. That said, 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and 14 have legalized it for medical use.
In 2022, President Joe Biden directed the Department of Health and Human Services, or the HHS, to conduct a review of how marijuana is scheduled. In the review, the HHS recommended that the drug be rescheduled to a Schedule III.
Marijuana being classified as a Schedule III drug means it would be classified alongside drugs including ketamine, testosterone, anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine, USA TODAY reports. These drugs have “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” according to the DEA.
The laws regarding Schedule III drugs in Tennessee vary as some drugs are legal with limitations and others are not. Therefore, it is hard to tell if the reclassification of marijuana to a lower schedule would sway Tennessee lawmakers to legalize the drug in any way.
Is marijuana legal in Tennessee?
There is no short answer to the question of whether marijuana is legal in Tennessee for a couple of reasons. Part of the confusion can stem from the various terms − cannabis, marijuana and weed − that might seem interchangeable but are not, at least not as Tennessee defines them. Hemp just adds to the confusion.
The defining difference between hemp and marijuana is their psychoactive component: tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Hemp has 0.3% or less THC, meaning hemp-derived products don’t contain enough THC to create the “high” traditionally associated with marijuana.
Tennessee has legalized the cultivation of hemp and defined hemp as cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC. Cannabis sativa containing greater than 0.3% THC, which is defined by Tennessee as marijuana, is still illegal.
While marijuana is not legal, in Tennessee you can buy products containing CBD, or cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant but does not cause a high and is not addictive.
Is marijuana a dangerous drug?
Marijuana has been hard to study because of its classification. However, the move to reschedule the drug is largely due to the lower public health risks, federal scientists have said. The rescheduling of marijuana to a Schedule III drug would allow for further studies to be done.
In a leaked HHS document, officials wrote to the DEA in support of rescheduling the drug. Marijuana’s risk for addiction is similar to that of tobacco and has relatively mild withdrawal symptoms compared to alcohol. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, there are no known deaths from a marijuana overdose.
Despite the less intense symptoms, the drug does affect physical and mental health. According to NIDA, it can cause permanent IQ loss for people who begin using it at a young age. Long-term use has been associated with temporary paranoia and hallucinations. Marijuana can exacerbate symptoms with disorders like schizophrenia.
NIDA found that marijuana smoke has a similar health impacts to tobacco smoke. People who smoke marijuana frequently develop issues with breathing similar to those of tobacco smokers.
Respiratory issues include daily cough, phlegm and a higher risk of lung infections, however, the American Heart Association said it’s unclear if marijuana causes a greater risk of lung cancer.
Health benefits of marijuana
The cannabis plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, if not millennia. It appears to help with treating pain, insomnia, anxiety, and glaucoma, among other health conditions. Still, evidence is mixed and more research into its health benefits is needed, researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said in August.
While cannabis is not approved for any medical use by the FDA, several drugs containing cannabinoids, or substances such as THC or CBD, have been approved according to the National Institutes of Health.
USA TODAY and Tennessee Connect reporter Liz Kellar contributed to this report
Tennessee
How to avoid traffic and beat the crowds: In-N-Out Burger opening first Tennessee locations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – In-N-Out Burger will open its first two Tennessee locations Wednesday morning in Antioch and Lebanon, with a third location opening Friday in Murfreesboro as the California chain expands into Middle Tennessee.
Both Wednesday locations will open at 10 a.m., with officials expecting crowds large enough to back up traffic onto I-40. The restaurants each have one drive-thru lane and about 100 seats for customers.
In-N-Out’s first Tennessee locations to open in December
Lebanon officials expect the opening to make In-N-Out a regional destination instead of just a local restaurant. People from across the state and as far away as Mississippi and Arkansas have said they’re making the drive to try a Double-Double burger and Animal Style fries.
Sarah Haston, Lebanon Economic and Community Development Director, said the excitement has been palpable among local officials as the opening approaches.
“We are thrilled,” Haston said. “We take so much pride in being one of the first to open. This is a good time for Lebanon and we are expecting to shine through it.”
In-N-Out has purchased extra land near both locations to accommodate long lines of cars waiting in line. The Lebanon lot has space for 806 cars and includes bathrooms for people waiting.
The restaurant has hired a private traffic management company that will use large signs and personnel to direct traffic flow. In-N-Out has been working with police on traffic plans for the past four months.
“We feel like we have really put a lot of effort into it,” Haston said. “Kudos to In-N-Out and their team. They’ve really put a lot of thought into it, and they have people that are trained for this. People that are specific to opening locations.”
The Lebanon location sits close to the I-40 interchange, raising concerns about traffic backing up onto the highway. Haston said they’ve added more turn lanes, traffic lights and other measures to mitigate the issue.
For drivers trying to avoid the congestion, Haston recommended using different entry and exit ramps for the highway and taking routes that avoid the South Hartmann Drive area.
Officials expect the busy area around the Lebanon location to remain congested for several weeks after opening. For customers willing to wait to try In-N-Out, officials suggest visiting after the initial crowds subside in a couple of weeks.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Tennessee
Reporter Provides Key Information During Tennessee Vols Defensive Coordinator Search
The Tennessee Volunteers have the chance to make some big-time moves in the month of December, as they are looking to make a decision that can impact the future of the defense in a positive way.
Former Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, that Monday as the DC for the Vols, but he would close the day off the staff. This is due to a decision that was made by Josh Heupel and others to part ways with the long-term DC for the Vols. Fans were calling for this decision on both social media and in real life, as fans even went as far as painting the rock and putting “Fire Tim Banks” on it.
After this was made official, fans started to speculate on what’s next for the Vols with the defensive coordinator opening. They started naming options and timelines, but since then more information has been revealed by a reliable source. Here is what was said.
Chris Low Confirms Some Details
“Would expect this one to be done pretty quickly. Vols made Banks one of the highest-paid DCs a year ago and will be willing to pay big money again,” said Chris Low.
This is good news as fans are hopeful that the Vols will go for a quality-based choice and try their hardest to land a top defensive coordinator in college football. There have been multiple names that have been thrown around, and some are among the best in the nation. Others may have to prove a bit to the fanbase. All of the names that have been released as possible options seem to be additions outside the current staff, except for one coach who could also be promoted.
That coach is William Inge, who has been named as the interim defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers for their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The other question has been, “Will Josh Heupel make an addition with someone he has had ties to?”
If that’s the case, then there is a chance that the Vols shoot their shot with Ryan Walters. Walters is the current defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies and has been improving with that program. He is a former staff member who was on the opposite side of the football coaching staff from Josh Heupel. Heupel was the offensive coordinator while Walters served as a co-defensive coordinator.
Make sure to stay tuned with Vols on SI.
More Vols News
Tennessee
Whataburger closing four Middle Tennessee restaurants. When and where
Whataburger has announced plans to close four of its 24 Middle Tennessee restaurants less than four years after returning to the region.
Restaurants that are closing Dec. 15 are:
- Mt. Juliet: 11190 Lebanon Road
- Murfreesboro: 1924 Memorial Boulevard
- Clarksville: 791 North 2nd Street
- Clarksville: 1602 Haynes Street
“We regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases that means closing restaurants,” according to a company statement.
The decision to close the four restaurants “helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact,” the company stated.
The Mt. Juliet restaurant opened on July 9, 2024 at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and North Mt. Juliet Road.
Whataburger also has a restaurant on Rutland Drive in Mt. Juliet and two restaurants in neighboring Lebanon in Wilson County.
Lineberry Properties is the property landlord for the Mt. Juliet restaurant that will close.
The lease is for 15 years. Mark Lineberry of Lineberry Properties expects Whataburger’s broker to sublease the property.
Whataburger plans to continue opening new restaurants in the Nashville area that includes a location off Gallatin Avenue in Nashville in the coming months.
Whataburger returned to the Nashville area for the first time since the 1970s with a restaurant in Hermitage in January 2022.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.
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