Tennessee Democrats are advocating for a new bill called the “Pot for Potholes Act.” This legislation aims to legalize recreational marijuana and use the tax revenue generated to fund repairs for state and local roads and bridges. Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), one of the bill’s sponsors, described it as a “common-sense plan” to combine the legalization of marijuana with much-needed infrastructure funding.
The proposed law, also supported by Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), would impose a 15% tax on recreational marijuana sales. Seventy-five percent of the tax revenue collected would be allocated to state road and bridge projects, while the remaining 25% would go to local governments.
According to a January report from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), the Tennessee Department of Transportation currently faces a staggering $38 billion backlog in infrastructure projects. Since the state does not incur debt for such expenses, Behn explained that this bill would create a new revenue stream to address the urgent need for road repairs.
Behn expressed optimism about the proposal, noting it creatively combines revenue generation with fulfilling public demand. A December 2024 poll from Vanderbilt University found that 63% of participants supported the legalization of recreational marijuana, which included 53% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats. However, Republican Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) has indicated that the bill’s chances are slim, suggesting that medical marijuana might be more acceptable than recreational use.
Campbell highlighted the financial benefits of legalizing recreational marijuana, referencing Colorado’s success in the market. The Colorado Department of Revenue reported that the state has generated over $2 billion in revenue from marijuana sales since 2014. She stated that Tennessee is missing out on potential revenue while its roads are deteriorating, adding that many residents are already obtaining cannabis from other states and bringing it back home.
The “Pot for Potholes Act” is scheduled for its first debate in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 26.
