Alcohol Monster on the Rules: Why Tennessee Cannabis Needs Independence

Alcohol Monster Judge & Jury Over Medical Marijuana

Tennessee lawmakers keep talking about “wanting the science” on marijuana. Sounds noble, right? Except there’s one giant problem: marijuana can’t get federal research grants while it’s still a Schedule I drug. In other words, we’re told to “show the proof,” while the government locks the lab doors.

Meanwhile, the same politicians who cry for science hand the keys of cannabis regulation to — you guessed it — the alcohol industry. That’s like asking McDonald’s to write the rules for Burger King. Conflict of interest doesn’t even begin to cover it.

The Conflict of Interest Is Built-In

Follow the money: Alcohol sales are a massive revenue stream for Tennessee. Regulators, lobbyists, and even some lawmakers are tangled up in that cash flow. If cannabis takes market share, guess who loses? Not patients. Not workers. Just the Alcohol Monster.
Example #1 – THCA Ban: Tennessee’s recent move to ban THCA wasn’t about safety. It was about making sure cannabis didn’t become a legal alternative to booze. No bodies were piling up from THCA. But it was a threat to alcohol’s monopoly, so it had to go.
Example #2 – The Silence on Harm: Alcohol is tied to liver disease, cancer, domestic violence, DUIs, and early death. Cannabis? Lower risks, medicinal potential, and no documented overdose deaths. Yet the regulators who protect alcohol are the same ones choking cannabis at the root.

Why Cannabis Needs Its Own Commission

Cannabis isn’t a frat party drug anymore — it’s medicine, therapy, and jobs. An independent cannabis commission could:

Put Patients First: Veterans with PTSD, cancer patients needing relief, athletes recovering from injuries — they deserve regulators who actually prioritize their health.
Promote Research: Stop blocking the science. Give universities the freedom to study cannabis without fear of reprisal from alcohol-backed boards.
Build an Industry: Tennessee is already falling behind neighboring states in jobs and revenue. A fair playing field means new farms, dispensaries, and small businesses.
Ensure Safety: Regulation doesn’t mean chaos. It means tested products, safe access, and fewer people turning to the black market.

The Stakes

As long as alcohol regulators write the rules, Tennessee’s cannabis policy will be designed to fail. That’s not democracy — that’s protectionism.

Cannabis isn’t alcohol’s competition. It’s an alternative. A safer choice. A lifeline for patients. The only “threat” cannabis poses is to the Alcohol Monster’s stranglehold on Tennessee law.

The real question isn’t if Tennessee regulates cannabis, but who gets to hold the pen. If it’s the alcohol lobby, the people lose. If it’s an independent commission, Tennesseans finally win.

Closer:
Tennessee can’t claim to be “looking for science” while letting booze bosses call the shots. If lawmakers are serious about fairness, health, and freedom, then cannabis needs its own table — away from alcohol’s shadow.

Because the Alcohol Monster has been fed enough. It’s time to let the medicine grow. 🌱

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