Tennessee
Tennessee should make marijuana legal after feds downgrade marijuana to Schedule III drug
Lawmakers should ask their constituents what they think and then in their 2025 session start working on allowing broader access to cannabis for all Tennesseans.
Biden administration plans big marijuana rule changes
The federal government’s plan would recategorize pot, once deemed highly dangerous, addictive and without medical use, as a prescribable medication.
In 2015, former state Rep. Sheila Butt, now mayor of Maury County, openly talked about how cannabis oil versus traditional medication would help her sister, who suffered from seizures.
East Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Faison famously posted a photo of himself at a marijuana grow room during a 2016 visit to Colorado to learn more about medicinal uses for the plant.
Beth Harwell, the former Tennessee Speaker of the House, campaigned for governor in 2018 on a promise to make marijuana legal in the Volunteer State.
Ex state Sen. Steve Dickerson, a physician, advocated for alternative forms of medicine including cannabis in a 2020 guest opinion column in The Tennessean.
They all happen to be Republicans in a state with a GOP-dominated legislature. Faison is now in a leadership position as House GOP Caucus chair, but in 2015, he said: “For close to a decade we demonized a plant. We are in the early stages in America and in Tennessee in understanding there may be some benefits in this plant.”
While he is not quite so vocal about this subject as he used to be, now that the federal government is looking to change rules downgrading marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug, Faison and his colleagues should start back on a path toward broader legalization in Tennessee.
Cannabis production and sales are limited in Tennessee
The change, if approved after a public comment process, would no longer classify marijuana as among the “most dangerous and addictive substances,” according to a USA TODAY report.
Twenty-four of 50 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and another 14 only allow it for medicinal use, according to Pew Research Center. That means the vast majority of Americans – 74% – live in a state where there is some form of broad legalization.
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Tennessee is not one of them and what is permissible is limited.
There are cannabis-derived products, such as, oils, ointments and gummies, which are allowed to be sold in the state, including CBD, or cannabidiol, and Delta-8. In 2022, Buds & Brews became Tennessee’s first legal restaurant to serve cannabis-infused condiments and beverages.
In addition, the state allows for the legal cultivation of hemp that contains less than 0.3% of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychotropic part of the plant. Anything beyond 0.3% is forbidden and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s official statement on its website says: “TBI is opposed to the legalization of marijuana in any form outside of the FDA and DEA approval process utilized for all other forms of medicine.”
Yet, in a state suffering an opioid abuse and death epidemic and with federal rules likely changing, it is time to change the law in Tennessee starting with broader access to medicinal care.
In his guest opinion column, Dickerson, the medical doctor and former state senator, addressed concerns that legalized marijuana could be a “gateway” drug for addiction and he responded this way: “Like any medical treatment, this is a concern that must be taken seriously. However, research clearly shows that cannabis dependency occurs in a tiny percentage of patients, and it is far safer than other types of painkillers. With proper care and supervision, the benefits of medical cannabis far outweigh these concerns.”
Americans show record support for legalizing pot
More than a decade ago, the Obama Administration stopped prosecuting people for possessing medicinal marijuana.
Congress has limited the Department of Justice’s ability to go after people in states that have legalized marijuana, according to a 2022 Congressional Research Service report.
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President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of Americans convicted on federal counts of simple possession of marijuana.
Today, as fentanyl and other synthetic drugs are public health and criminal justice threats, legalizing marijuana could help people in pain, farmers, and state budgets at a time when revenues are flat or falling. Non-violent people would stay out of jail.
National Geographic wrote in its “Inside Marijuana” that cannabis is among the largest cash crops in the nation and the legal pot trade is outpacing the wine industry in California.
There are important concerns about potential addiction in some cases and about whether heavy state regulations create a disincentive for growers, leading people to get their recreational pot in the underground economy, thus, defeating the purpose for a legal framework.
However, popular opinion is very much in favor of legalization. The polling and public sentiment research service Gallup showed that Americans’ support for legalized marijuana grew from 12% in 1969 to a record 70% in 2023.
Lawmakers should ask their constituents what they think and then in their 2025 session start working on allowing broader access to cannabis for all Tennesseans.
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.
Tennessee
Tennessee reading law: Less than 1% of third graders held back in 2024
Just 0.88% of Tennessee public school third graders were held back this year under the state’s controversial reading law, despite 60% of the class falling short of a state reading benchmark this spring.
With around 74,000 third graders enrolled in the 2023-24 school year statewide, that works out to 655 students who were retained, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Education. The state reading law took effect last year and led to the retention of 1.2% of third graders in 2023, which came out to 898 students.
The law primarily determines children’s reading proficiency by their English language arts scores on the standardized Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP, test.
The 60% who fell short on this year’s TCAP represent roughly 50,000 students. However, that number does not include students who were exempt from being held back. Here are those exemptions, including how many students met them:
- 11,468: Students with disabilities or suspected disabilities that may impact their reading
- 3,511: Students who are English learners with less than two years of English language arts instruction
- 2,596: Students who were held back in a previous grade
- 2,345: Students who had other exemptions determined by their local education leaders
Exemptions were up to the districts to sort out. The remaining students had to successfully take one of the state’s many “pathways” to avoid being held back.
Here’s a look at how those students fared.
How Tennessee third graders moved on to fourth grade
Third graders who scored “below” or “approaching” expectations on the English language arts section of the TCAP had several options to avoid being held back.
Retakes were offered to third graders shortly after the spring TCAP. A total of 3,274 made a passing score and moved on to fourth grade. Another 99 students won an appeal because they faced a catastrophic circumstance around the time they took the TCAP.
Third graders who scored as approaching proficiency had three options to move on to fourth grade. Here’s how many qualified for each one:
- 1,124: Enrolled in summer school, met 90% attendance and showed adequate growth
- 7,426: Opted into state-provided tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade
- 3,262: Scored in the 50th percentile or higher of a state-approved universal reading screener and opted into state-provided tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade
- 2,895: Won a parent appeal and opted into an academic remediation plan in fourth grade, which includes tutoring
Third graders who scored as below proficiency had one option to move on to fourth grade. Here’s how many qualified:
- 3,411: Enrolled in summer school, met a 90% attendance rate and opted into state-provided tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade
Students who qualified for tutoring in fourth grade must meet an individualized growth goal by the end of fourth grade. This growth goal does not apply to two groups who opted into tutoring: Those who won an appeal, or those who scored as “approaching” on the third grade TCAP and scored in the 50th percentile or higher on the third grade universal reading screener.
A total of 1,950 third graders who fell short on the spring TCAP either did not enroll again or had data that has not been reported to the state. The data reflects reports from districts as of Sept. 6, according to the state department of education.
How the Tennessee reading law affected fourth graders
Fourth graders who enrolled in yearlong tutoring to avoid being held back in third grade must pass the English language arts section of the TCAP or hit individualized growth goals set by the state. However, the reading law does not mandate that they be held back if they do not meet those goals.
Instead, it requires the student’s parents or legal guardians, principal and English language arts teacher to determine what’s best. They can either decide to retain the child or promote them to fifth grade with state-provided tutoring in place.
According to the state department of education, here’s how fourth graders enrolled in tutoring this year fared:
- 5,389: Promoted to fifth grade with tutoring in place
- 3,996: Met adequate growth goals
- 1,740: Scored proficient on their spring TCAP English language arts section
- 132: Retained in fourth grade
A total of 906 fourth graders either did not enroll again or had data that was not reported by their district, according to the state education department.
Where can I learn more?
More information on the third grade reading and retention law from the Tennessee Department of Education can be found at tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration.
Tennessee
Former Titans Coach Named Top Candidate for Jets
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel remains a hot name, and he may have another head-coaching job as soon as next season.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently named a bunch of potential candidates for the New York Jets job in 2025, and Vrabel was at the top of his list.
“Mike Vrabel makes the most sense to me, mostly because he won’t stand down to an owner, and that’s exactly what the New York Jets need,” Breer wrote.
The problem with that is Jets owner Woody Johnson is known to be a meddler, so he a Vrabel-Johnson partnership may never actually come to fruition.
Still, Vrabel could end up being a perfect fit for the Jets from a stylistic perspective given that New York is built upon a strong defense.
It’s not the first time that Vrabel has been linked to Gang Green, either.
Vrabel actually did a very solid job during his time with the Titans, going 54-45 while making three playoff appearances—including a pair of AFC South titles—across five seasons.
Things went south over Vrabel’s final two years in Tennessee, with the Titans going just 13-21 during that span. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the problem was not with Vrabel.
Vrabel is currently serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns, but it seems like only a matter of time before he lands a better job elsewhere.
The 49-year-old also had a 14-year NFL playing career from 1997 through 2010, spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and also made a Pro Bowl with the squad in 2007.
The Jets have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, as they are just 3-8 in spite of having one of the most star-studded rosters in the sport.
Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Tennessee
Tennessee man convicted for Jan. 6 riot found guilty of plotting to kill FBI agents who investigated him
A Jan. 6 rioter who breached the U.S. Capitol was convicted of trying to have law enforcement personnel, including the FBI agents and employees who were investigating him, murdered, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
Edward Kelley, 35, of Maryville, Tennessee, who was convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers and other crimes during the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing or retaliating against federal officials by threat.
The jury agreed on a verdict after an hour of deliberation following the three-day trial, WBIR-TV reported.
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Federal prosecutors at his trial in Knoxville, Tennessee, said Kelly developed a “kill list” of FBI agents and others who participated in the investigation into his conduct on Jan. 6 while awaiting trial for his involvement in the Capitol riot.
He distributed the list, as well as videos containing images of FBI employees identified on the list, to a co-conspirator as part of his “mission,” authorities said.
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Kelley’s co-defendant Austin Carter, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to kill FBI agents and is awaiting sentencing, testified that Kelly said he needed to “take out” the FBI. He said that he and Kelley planned attacks on the Knoxville FBI Field Office using car bombs and incendiary devices appended to drones.
He also testified that the conspirators strategized about assassinating FBI employees in their homes and in public places such as movie theaters.
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Recording introduced by prosecutors showed Kelley directing the plan, and giving instructions to “start it,” “attack,” and “take out their office” in the event of his arrest. He was also recorded stating: “Every hit has to hurt. Every hit has to hurt,” authorities said.
Kelley is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025. He faces up to life in prison.
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