State lawmakers are set to take up legislation Monday that would legalize marijuana for adult use in Tennessee. The proposal SB2440/HB2525 would allow recreational cannabis use for adults 21 and older and direct revenue from a 15% business sales tax toward road repairs.
Supporters say the funding is badly needed to address road infrastructure issues across the state, especially Tennessee’s reputation for potholes.
The bill is not new. Similar legislation was introduced- and rejected- last year.
Nashville Democrats Rep. Aftyn Behn and Sen. Heidi Campbell, are sponsoring the “pot for potholes” effort again, and have launched a website and petition to build support.
“Instead of a $58 billion pothole backlog, we can legalize cannabis, tax it and pave our roads. Other states have done it, and we can too,” Behn said in a promotional video.
Supporters point to states like Massachusetts, which has a similar population to Tennessee, and generated about $289 million in cannabis tax revenue last year.
However, some Republican lawmakers remain opposed. House Majority Leader William Lamberth raised concerns about public safety during a committee hearing last year, before the bill was voted down.
“Sure, you can fill a couple of potholes at the expense of the blood that’s going to be… on those roads from intoxicated individuals that will be using marijuana in this state,” Lamberth said during the 2025 legislative session.
Currently, about half of U.S. states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, while most others allow it in some medical capacity.
Tennessee law permits only very limited THC use, putting it closer in line with the few states (three) where cannabis remains fully illegal.
Other proposals under consideration take a more limited approach to allowing marijuana in Tennessee, including decriminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis and allowing voters to weigh in on medical cannabis through a ballot question.
https://fox17.com/news/local/push-to-legalize-pot-for-potholes-returns-to-tn-general-assembly-monday
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