East Ridge forum buzzes over medical marijuana and gas tax hike legislation

Rep. Marc Gravitt, R-East Ridge, left, and Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, speak about upcoming legislative topics at the East Ridge Community Center.
Rep. Marc Gravitt, R-East Ridge, left, and Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, speak about upcoming legislative topics at the East Ridge Community Center.

A proposed gas tax hike and medical marijuana received some buzz at an East Ridge community forum hosted by a pair of local state lawmakers.

On Thursday evening, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Marc Gravitt, R-East Ridge, shared their thoughts with a crowd of 16 people, including a few local elected officials, about expected hot topics of the Tennessee Assembly's upcoming legislative session.

Despite all of the fanfare associated with Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to increase fuel taxes as a way to fund road projects, few audience members voiced support or opposition to the idea. Neither did Gravitt or Gardenhire.

"I'm not an advocate and I'm not against it right now," Gravitt said. "All I'm doing is I want feedback."

If implemented, the average motorist would pay $4 more a month for gas, resulting in an estimated $228,000 for East Ridge to use on transportation needs, he said. Chattanooga would receive $1.8 million.

"Now, all that being said, you know one of the things people complain about - and again, I'm not advocating the bill - everyone complains about roads," Gravitt said. "Not only in East Ridge, but also Chattanooga."

Gardenhire said a number of bridges along the Interstate 24 corridor between the I-75 junction and the Georgia state line had not been touched in 60 years. To widen and replace any one of those bridges would cost a minimum of $3.5 million, meaning that 10-mile stretch could cost $750 million in bridge overhauls alone, he said.

"That doesn't count going around or through or over [Missionary Ridge]," Gardenhire said. "That doesn't count around Lookout Mountain."

Resident Gayla Dunfee asked why the state could not seek extra road money through commercial transportation registration fees instead of having citizens cut into their personal budgets.

"I'm for it," resident Dick Cook said. "Our infrastructure needs to be updated. We need to bite the bullet. I like to travel roads that are smooth."

As for medical marijuana, the lawmakers said they expected opposition from human resources departments and law enforcement, citing concerns such as someone illegally using the drug while driving or operating machinery.

"I don't know my position on it right now, but there are 26 or 27 states that have approved medical marijuana," Gravitt said. "It's going to come to Tennessee eventually."

Dunfee said she supported allowing the drug to be used medically, citing firsthand conditions that prevent her and others from using regular pain-relieving medicines.

Gardenhire briefly addressed the possibility of Insure Tennessee legislation returning for another round, saying he believed it might, but expecting nothing will really happen until the federal government makes proposed healthcare changes.

Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.

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