Marijuana decriminalization punted to committee by City Council in heated meeting

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A proposal to effectively decriminalize simple possession of marijuana in the Clarksville city limits was punted to a committee by the City Council Thursday night.

The resolution,  sponsored by Ward 12 council member Trisha Butler, would encourage the Police Department to make simple possession “the lowest enforcement priority,” and ask District Attorney General John Carney Jr. to take “an active stance or position of not prosecuting persons for simple possession or casual exchange of marijuana for personal use.”

The resolution wouldn’t change any laws, but it expresses support for decriminalization at the state level, which would have to be taken up by the Tennessee General Assembly.

Ward 10 council member Stacey Streetman asked Butler if she had discussed her resolution with Carney. Ward 5 council member Jason Knight then asked if Butler had spoken with Clarksville Police Chief David Crockarell.

After the over five-hour-long meeting, which ended just after midnight, Butler took to Facebook, where she said, “I don’t need to ask the chief of police and the DA for permission to give him a suggestion.”

Sent to committee

Streetman moved to defer the resolution to the soon-to-be-established Legislative Liaison Committee for consideration.

The motion to defer was approved 8-5. Voting yes were Vondell Richmond, Wallace Redd, Jason Knight, Wanda Smith, Travis Holleman, Karen Reynolds, Stacey Streetman and Mayor Joe Pitts. Voting no were Richard Garrett, Wanda Allen, Ashlee Evans, DaJuan Little and Trisha Butler.

In a Facebook post following the meeting, Butler suggested that council members found her marijuana, or cannabis, resolution “too risky to vote on” and sent it to committee “to die.”

“Clarksville your city council silenced your voice about cannabis, when the state legislature is taking up three bills on decrim/legalization. Why? Bureaucratic bull—- and fear,” Butler said in another post.

The Legislative Liaison Committee will be tasked with discussing this and other issues that the City Council would like to send to the Tennessee General Assembly for consideration on the state level.

Correction: Council member DaJuan Little also voted against deferring the resolution. The article has been updated.