After the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned voter approved IM 65, which would have legalized medical cannabis, activists and citizens have been calling for a special session. It seems lawmakers and Governor Tate Reeves, R, are now closer to calling for a special session to create a medical cannabis program. The governor previously stated he didn’t want to call for a special session that would take a lot of time — he didn’t want taxpayers to foot the bill. Lawmakers indicate next week they will be meeting to discuss and draft a medical cannabis bill to replace IM 65. When a draft is made, Governor Reeves will most likely call for a special session, as early as August.

Special Session

Senator Kevin Blackwell, R, is leading the Senate efforts to create a bill following the spirit of IM 65 with some improvements. Representative Lee Yancey, R, is leading the House in creating an almost identical bill to IM 65, since that is what the people voted for. “Our position is different from the Senate position, but there are similarities,” Representative Yancey said. “I think the House position is much closer to Initiative 65, that voters passed, than the Senate position.”

While each chamber is working on drafting their own bill, there are questions many say need addressing. 

• How strict should the Mississippi medical cannabis program be?
• Should patients smoke medical cannabis?
• Is indoor plant cultivation the way the state should go or should they include outdoor cultivation as well?
• Can cities “opt out” of allowing businesses and dispensaries in city limits?

These questions seem to be the hot button topics among many lawmakers having vastly different opinions. Though similarities exist, a compromise may take time.

“On one end of the spectrum you’ve got prohibition, and on the other Cheech and Chong, and they’re all throwing slings and arrows,” Representative Yancey continued. “People have got to remember, this is about alleviating the pain of suffering people. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Future

It seems Mississippi lawmakers and Governor Reeves are one step closer to calling for a special session on medical cannabis. A recent poll shows 82 percent of citizens want lawmakers to pass some kind of medical cannabis program. Hopefully this encourages them to move forward. Should Governor Reeves call for a special session in August, we will update you with the latest.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.