One of the few states in the United States that does not allow marijuana use for recreational or medical purposes is Tennessee. That does not, however, prevent some of its citizens from consuming marijuana, particularly in one city that has the highest rate of marijuana use in the state.
About Memphis
Verilife, a national cannabis dispensary chain, shared a report on weed consumption in Tennessee. According to the report, Memphis takes the lead in the state, with an estimated annual consumption of around 77.9 metric tons, equivalent to 171,800 pounds or 77.9 million grams.
On average, a person in Memphis consumes about 7.7 grams of weed per month or 0.26 grams per day. In the national ranking of cities with the highest weed consumption, Memphis is eighth, following New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia.
In Tennessee, Memphis is also at the top among cities with the highest weed consumption, followed by Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, and Franklin.
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Memphis Surpasses All Other Tennessee Cities in Marijuana Use
Memphis smokes more weed than anywhere else in Tennessee for a few reasons. Firstly, Memphis is the second-most populous city in the state, with over 1.3 million people in the metropolitan area. A bigger population means there’s more demand and supply of weed in the city.
Another reason is that Memphis has a more progressive stance on weed compared to other Tennessee cities. In 2016, Memphis passed a law making the possession of up to half an ounce of weed a civil offense, with a $50 fine or community service instead of jail time.
Lastly, Memphis has a diverse and resilient community with a strong presence of African Americans, Hispanics, and immigrants. These groups may have different views on weed and use it for various reasons, like socializing or coping with challenges such as poverty or discrimination.
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Tennessee’s Prospects for Cannabis Use
Even though many people in Memphis and other cities use a lot of weed, Tennessee has strict rules about marijuana. In the state, marijuana is only allowed for a few patients with severe epilepsy, and they can only use low-THC cannabis oil. Tennessee doesn’t have programs for medical marijuana, recreational marijuana, or hemp.
But there’s some hope for weed supporters in Tennessee. In 2021, there was a proposal in the state government to make medical marijuana legal for patients with certain conditions like cancer, HIV, PTSD, and chronic pain.
If this proposal becomes a law, it would also permit the growing, processing, distribution, and taxing of medical marijuana in the state. The proposal hasn’t become a law yet, but it’s getting support from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as from the public.
Another proposal in 2021 suggested making it less strict if someone has a small amount of marijuana, like one ounce. Instead of facing a big punishment, they would get a $50 fine or do 10 hours of community service.
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To Conclude
There may be growing pressure on Tennessee to legalize marijuana for recreational or medical use as additional states throughout the nation do so. For the time being, Memphis and other Tennessee cities continue to smoke more marijuana than any other place in the state, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will change.
