After a last ditch effort from supporters, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a statement on July 1 saying they would not reconsider IM 65. This is the medical cannabis measure which received 74 percent of the vote last November. Southern District Justice Dawn Bean, who spoke on behalf of all Justices, said since neither party intervened when they had the chance to in November, “the present motion for leave to intervene is not well take and should be denied.” 

Because of this, the Supreme Court struck down any possibility to reconsider the motion of IM 65. There had been a chance the Secretary of State, Michael Watson, could ask the court to reconsider. He opted not to, instead switching to pressuring Governor Tate Reeves (R) into calling for a special session. 

In this session, lawmakers would discuss and create a relatively similar medical cannabis measure to what voters approved in IM 65. However, the governor has not called for a special session yet. He is waiting for lawmakers to create a basis for their medical cannabis bill before calling them back into session.

Medical Cannabis

All of this comes after the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled IM 65 as invalid following a lawsuit filed by the Mayor of Madison City, Mary Hawkins Butler, in line with a mathematical impossibility created through old laws. Previous laws said that all five districts in Mississippi needed to be represented equally in regards to ballot initiative measures. 

However, Mississippi lost one of its Congressional districts in 2000 after a census change. The law never became rewritten to reflect this district update. So each of the five districts weren’t represented equally because there are only four. It’s a technicality, but one that the Supreme Court has decided to uphold. 

Activists have called for reconsideration as well as impeachment of the Justices who voted against the people’s wish for medical cannabis. While no impeachment measures have been made, activists are being heard loud and clear. Governor Reeves has said he supports the will of the people. He wants to create a program for patients in need. It’s just a matter of time until Governor Reeves calls for a special session and lawmakers make it happen.

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