Tennessee lawmakers want to legalize pot to help pay for roads

The big picture: Campbell says the title is "a catchy pitch" aimed at drawing attention to a serious problem.

By the numbers: Tennessee has a $58 billion backlog in unfunded road projects, the Tennessean reports.

• The bill's fiscal note estimates $29 million in cannabis tax revenue flowing annually, according to the Tennessee Lookout.

Driving the news: Campbell's legislation would earmark the tax revenue generated by legalizing marijuana sales to pay for the infrastructure.

What she's saying: "It's ridiculous that we're allowing all the states around us to capture that revenue," she says. "I also have a friend whose son had a cannabis-induced psychosis. We have to regulate it and legalize it. We have random potency in products."

• "We have a black market because we don't legalize it, and everyone in Nashville can just drive to Illinois to get it (legally from dispensaries)."

Friction point: Campbell says the idea of dedicating pot revenue to fixing potholes is well-timed, because state-run Nashville roads are in bad shape after the January ice storm.

What's next: The legislation is up for debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee next week.