Tennessee Cannabiz

1. Marijuana vs. Alcohol: The Science Gap Marijuana: Senators like Marsha Blackburn and others ask for “proof” before rescheduling. They want studies on medical efficacy, addiction potential, and long-term effects. Alcohol: Meanwhile, alcohol is widely acknowledged as a carcinogen, neurotoxin, and leading cause of liver disease and drunk-driving deaths , yet it remains fully legal and heavily promoted. Federal and state regulators treat alcohol as a “normal” substance despite its well-documented harms. 2. The Selective Enforcement THCA bans, age restrictions, and regulatory oversight are strict — but mostly applied to cannabis . Alcohol, which causes far more death and societal costs , is largely left to self-regulation and the alcohol industry’s lobby. Tennessee’s alcohol regulators even gain control over cannabis enforcement, tying THC products to the same system — as if cannabis were inherently riskier than booze. 3. The Double Standard Lawmakers claim to care abou...

Cannabis Plea For Presidential Clemency Free the Green: A Plea for Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Tennessee has already shown us what happens when entrenched interests and moral gatekeepers get to decide the fate of cannabis. High-THCA hemp is being outlawed, alcohol profiteers are cementing control over legal hemp, and private prisons still profit from outdated laws. The result? Ordinary citizens and small businesses are punished, while special interests thrive. The Holier-Than-Thou Interference Too often, policy is driven not by science or fairness, but by people and organizations who think they know better than everyone else. Regulators, politicians, and industry lobbyists have allowed personal biases and financial incentives to dictate what Americans can grow, sell, or consume. THCA bans, complex licensing systems, and arbitrary enforcement all prove the point: when marijuana is scheduled federally as it is now, interference from outsiders rules the day. Why Rescheduling Matter...

Tennessee Politicians: Selling Cancer, Buying Prisons, and Jailing Weed The State’s Sacred Cow: Alcohol 🥃 Alcohol is a proven killer. It’s linked to 7 types of cancer and shortens lives by 15 years on average . ( source ) Tennessee knows this but shields the alcohol industry because it brings in $546 million a year in alcohol tax revenue (2023). ( tn.gov ) Politicians throw whiskey festivals, cut ribbons at breweries, and smile for bourbon photo ops—while quietly ignoring alcohol’s role in DUIs, liver disease, and violent crime. The State’s Scapegoat: Cannabis 🌿 Tennessee is 2nd in the nation for marijuana arrests . In 2023 alone: 12,234 arrested for possession (41% of all drug possession cases). Almost every one of these was nonviolent . ( tennesseecannabis.org ) Lawmakers are doubling down by banning THCA , a form of cannabis that isn’t even intoxicating until heated. That’s like outlawing grapes because they might become wine. The Prison Profiteers 💰 T...

From Medicine to Monster: Episode 4 – From Monster to Modern Medicine After decades of fear, propaganda, and federal crackdowns, the “monster” of marijuana started to show cracks in the 1990s. Science, advocacy, and brave patients began peeling away the layers of lies that had demonized a plant for generations. California, 1996: The first state to legalize medical marijuana with Proposition 215. Patients suffering from AIDS, cancer, and chronic pain finally had legal access to relief. Suddenly, the Schedule I “monster” had a human face—people whose lives depended on cannabis. States followed one by one. Colorado and Washington led the charge in recreational legalization in 2012. The public began to see cannabis not as a threat, but as medicine, wellness, and even economic opportunity . Meanwhile, research surged. Studies highlighted marijuana’s therapeutic potential for pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and more. Even mainstream media slowly shifted tone: no longer just “reefer madness,” ...

From Medicine to Monster: Episode 3 – The War on Drugs & Nixon’s Legacy By the late 1960s, marijuana had left the jazz clubs and medicinal cabinets and entered the streets, colleges, and counterculture movements. And that got the attention of President Richard Nixon, who had bigger plans than just running the country—he wanted a public enemy, and marijuana fit the bill. In 1970, Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act, placing cannabis in Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD. Schedule I meant: no accepted medical use, high potential for abuse, total federal ban. The irony? Nixon’s own Shafer Commission (1972) had recommended decriminalizing marijuana for personal use—but he ignored it. Politics > science. Nixon didn’t hide the motivation. One of his aides, John Ehrlichman, later admitted that the “War on Drugs” targeted antiwar activists and Black communities, not public health. Marijuana became a weapon for social control, a “monster” whose real danger wasn’t chemical—it was ...

From Medicine to Monster: Episode 2 – Yellow Journalism & Reefer Madness By the mid-1930s, cannabis was no longer just a plant—it was a symbol of fear , carefully crafted by those who stood to gain. Enter the era of yellow journalism , a time when sensational headlines sold papers faster than facts ever could. William Randolph Hearst, media mogul and lumber tycoon, used his newspapers to stoke panic. Headlines screamed about “Marijuana-crazed Jazz Hounds” and “Degenerate Mexicans Threatening American Youth.” The goal? Sell papers… and protect his timber investments by demonizing hemp, a cheap alternative to paper pulp. Hollywood joined the fray. In 1936, Reefer Madness hit the screen, depicting marijuana users spiraling into madness, crime, and sexual deviance. The film was propaganda dressed as morality play, but audiences ate it up. Teachers, parents, and politicians alike watched in horror as the “monster” of marijuana tore through society. Meanwhile, Harry Anslinger fed t...

From Medicine to Monster: The Cannabis Chronicles Episode 1 From Medicine to Monster: Episode 1 – Seeds of Stigma Long before cannabis became a “monster” in the eyes of the law, it was medicine, fiber, and culture rolled into one. Hemp paper, rope, textiles, and even tinctures lined American cabinets. The U.S. Pharmacopeia listed cannabis as a legitimate medicine until 1942 . Doctors prescribed it for everything from menstrual cramps to malaria. So how did a plant so useful become public enemy #1? Enter the architects of fear: Harry Anslinger and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics . In the 1930s, Anslinger launched a campaign to vilify marijuana, associating it with jazz musicians, Mexican immigrants, and African American communities. His propaganda spread faster than wildfire in a dry forest. Sensationalist newspapers, hungry for readers, fueled the hysteria. Yellow journalism painted marijuana as a “gateway to crime, insanity, and moral decay.” Enter Reefer Madness (1936), a fil...

Wake Up TN: Missouri’s Green Boom Missouri - Cannabis Legalization Leader Missouri is showing the country what a thriving cannabis market looks like — and the numbers don’t lie. The state’s marijuana industry has been pulling in more than  $100 million every month , with cumulative sales topping  $4.28 billion since 2018 . That’s money flowing to farmers, small businesses, and communities — instead of out-of-state corporations or into the black market. Even more, President Donald Trump recently hinted that federal rescheduling of marijuana could come in the next few weeks, continuing momentum from the Biden-era push. If cannabis moves from  Schedule I  (where it sits next to heroin and LSD) down to  Schedule III , businesses would finally be freed from punishing federal tax rules, opening the door for lower prices and more competition. “Missouri has done more than almost any other state to really enhance the program… Just this spring, the Wall Street Journal cal...

See What You’re Missing Out On, Tennessee: The Cannabis-Infused Drink Boom Big Alcohol Losing Millions To Cannabis Drinks Crack open a cold one — no, not a beer — we’re talking cannabis-infused drinks. From sparkling waters to THC mocktails and wellness tonics, this is one of the fastest-growing segments of the cannabis industry. And once again, Tennessee is snoozing while other states are cashing in. A New Beverage Revolution The global cannabis beverage market is projected to reach billions of dollars in the next few years. Big-name companies, including some of the world’s biggest beer brands, are already buying into cannabis drink companies because they know where the future is heading. States with legal cannabis are already seeing: Cannabis seltzers and sparkling waters flying off shelves. Non-alcoholic THC mocktails showing up in bars and restaurants. Health-focused tonics blending CBD with adaptogens for daily wellness. This isn’t just a niche — it’s a shift in how people drink s...

See What You’re Missing Out On, Tennessee: Missouri’s Cannabis Boom Missouri's Cannabis Boom Not Tennessee's While Tennessee politicians cling to outdated laws and keep criminalizing cannabis users, our neighbor Missouri is cashing in — big time. Missouri Is Swimming in Green Missouri’s cannabis industry is already booming, and it’s only getting stronger. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: Cannabis sales are topping $100 million every month . Since 2018, the state has seen over $4.28 billion in total sales . In 2025 alone, sales are projected to hit $1.5 to $1.6 billion . This isn’t just profit for dispensaries — it’s money being poured directly back into Missouri communities. In 2024 alone, about $240 million flowed into state and local governments through sales taxes. That money funded: Nearly $35 million for the Missouri Veterans Commission and Department of Health. $23 million for Missouri’s public defender system. Local se...

  Cannabinoids What Are Cannabinoids? A Beginner’s Guide If you’ve heard terms like THC, CBD, or CBG floating around in the cannabis conversation, you’ve already brushed up against cannabinoids . But what are they, really? And why do they matter so much? Let’s break it down. The Short Answer Cannabinoids are natural compounds found in the cannabis plant that interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). They’re the reason cannabis can influence how you feel — from euphoria to relaxation, from pain relief to sharper appetite. Where Do Cannabinoids Come From? Cannabinoids are made in the trichomes — the tiny, crystal-like structures that coat cannabis buds. They start as acids (like THCA and CBDA) and change into their active forms (like THC and CBD) through heat or aging . This process is why lighting a joint, vaping, or cooking edibles activates the effects. Major Cannabinoids You Should Know There are over 100 cannabinoids discovered so far, but a few stea...

The Endocannabinoid System In Your Body The Endocannabinoid System: Your Body’s Hidden Network If cannabis feels like it was made for humans, that’s because in a way, it was. Deep inside every one of us lives a natural system designed to work hand-in-hand with cannabinoids: the endocannabinoid system (ECS) . Scientists only discovered the ECS in the 1990s, but it turns out to be one of the most important networks in the human body — and most people have never even heard of it. What Is the Endocannabinoid System? The ECS is a cell-signaling system that helps regulate balance, or homeostasis , in your body. Think of it as your internal tuning fork, keeping dozens of processes in rhythm, including: Mood and stress levels Sleep cycles Appetite and metabolism Pain perception Memory and learning Inflammation and immune response The Three Key Parts of the ECS The system works through three main components: Endocannabinoids Natural chemicals your body makes (like anandam...

What Are CB1 and CB2 Receptors? A Simple Guide to Your Body’s Cannabis Connection CB1 & CB2 RECEPTORS When people talk about cannabis, you’ll often hear phrases like “It binds to your receptors” or “That’s how THC gets you high.” But what exactly are these mysterious CB1 and CB2 receptors everyone’s talking about? Let’s break it down. The Endocannabinoid System: Your Body’s Hidden Network Inside your body, there’s a built-in system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It’s not something you learned in high school biology (unless you had a very cool teacher). Scientists only discovered it in the 1990s, but it plays a huge role in keeping your body balanced — regulating mood, appetite, memory, sleep, pain, and even your immune response. The ECS works through two main types of receptors: CB1 receptors CB2 receptors What Are CB1 Receptors? Found mostly in your brain and central nervous system. Heavily concentrated in areas that control memory, emotions, movement, coordination, and ...

THCP MOLECULE HAS 7 CARBON ATOMS What is THCP? A Beginner’s Guide to the Strongest Cannabinoid You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of The cannabis plant is full of surprises. Just when you think you know your THC from your CBD, science uncovers another compound that shifts the conversation. Enter THCP — short for Tetrahydrocannabiphorol . Discovered in 2019 by Italian researchers, THCP is one of the most intriguing cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Why? Because early studies suggest it may be up to 30 times more potent than regular THC . THCP vs THC: What’s the Difference? At a glance, THCP looks almost identical to THC (the compound most responsible for cannabis’s psychoactive effects). But there’s a key difference: THC has a side chain of five carbon atoms . THCP has a side chain of seven carbon atoms . This slight tweak gives THCP a much stronger ability to bind to your body’s CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Think of it like a key fitting the lock more ...