Clarksville City Council adopts marijuana resolution

The Clarksville City Council has adopted a resolution that supports the decriminalization of simple possession, or casual exchange, of marijuana for personal use. The resolution also supports access to, and use of, medical marijuana.

The final vote on Thursday, Dec. 2, which included three amendments altering it from the original document presented was 9-1-3.

Not a single Clarksville City Councilmember voted against the measure.

“My ‘no’ vote was a combination of wanting to support law enforcement and their concern about the practical effect of the resolution,” Pitts said in an email following Thursday’s meeting.

“We were hanging amendments on the original resolution like ornaments on a Christmas tree to make it more palatable.”

The nearly 40-minute discussion on the resolution began with amendments presented that removed the paragraphs that gave direction to local authorities, including the Clarksville Police Chief and the Montgomery County District Attorney General.

Resolution provides "a sense" of the council 

The final resolution, as amended, expresses the sense of the council by requesting the Tennessee General Assembly to pass legislation to decriminalize simple possession or casual exchange of marijuana for personal use.

Additionally, the Clarksville City Council expresses the sense of the body by requesting the Tennessee General Assembly pass legislation to support access to and the use of medical marijuana.

The city council also requests the members of the local state delegation to the General Assembly to introduce and promote the proposed legislation and actively work to have the legislation approved.

How Clarksville City Council voted

Councilmembers voting yes on the resolution included Brian Zacharias, Vondell Richmond, Dajuan Little, Ambar Marquis, Wanda Smith, Wanda Allen, Karen Reynold, Ashlee Evans and Trisha Buter.

The abstentions came from Wallace Redd, Travis Holleman and Stacey Streetman.