Today, the will of Mississippi voters was restored! Mississippi is poised to — once again — become the 37th medical cannabis state.
In November 2020, nearly 70% of Mississippi voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis. But the state Supreme Court overturned the voter-approved medical cannabis law on a legal technicality in May 2021. In the aftermath of the law’s invalidation, Mississippi legislators crafted a compromise bill, SB 2095, to restore a medical cannabis law in the state. Both legislative chambers have approved the bill by a veto-proof margin, and it now heads to the desk of Gov. Tate Reeves (R). You can find our summary of the legislation here.
In one of the most conservative states in the nation, medical cannabis boasts strong public support. When 69% of Mississippi voters cast their ballots in favor of enacting a medical cannabis program, 74% of them voted for the broad program, Initiative 65, while rejecting the far more restrictive alternative lawmakers had placed on the ballot, Initiative 65A. But even when we win overwhelmingly at the ballot, our prohibitionist opponents try challenging voter-enacted cannabis laws in the courts. Today, though, justice and compassion prevailed, as Mississippi legislators upheld the will of the people of the Magnolia State.
We can’t sit back while politicians ignore what constituents demand or attempt to trample on policies enacted by the people of their states, especially when patients continue to suffer needlessly. Despite tremendous support for medical cannabis in every state and nationwide, patients are still considered criminals in 13 states for using it. Please donate today to help us change that. MPP will continue the fight for medical cannabis access in the remaining states without medical programs.
Congratulations to Mississippi voters, patients, and advocates!
- Take Action: Urge your state legislators to support a compassionate medical cannabis program!
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Mississippi poised to (again) become 37th medical cannabis state!
Miss. Senate passes medical cannabis, on to the House!
Ask your state rep. to vote “yes” on the medical cannabis bill.
Great news! This afternoon, the Mississippi Senate voted 47-5 to restore a medical cannabis law to the Magnolia State. Now, the bill heads to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to come up in committee as soon as next week.
Ask your state representative to restore the will of voters!
More than a year after Mississippi voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to legalize medical cannabis, the Magnolia State remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law. Due to a technicality that overturned Initiative 65 (as well as the entire ballot initiative process), the patients of Mississippi are continuing to suffer needlessly.
Legislators crafted a compromise bill in anticipation that Gov. Tate Reeves (R) would call a special session of the legislature last fall. But the governor never called a special session. There is a possibility that some legislators are getting cold feet and may not want to pass a medical bill or pass one that is so restrictive that it does not resemble I-65 at all. SB 2095 is the best legislation to accomplish the goal of medical cannabis in Mississippi. Click here for our bill summary.
Reach out to your state rep. right now to let them know you want an effective medical cannabis program. Without hearing from YOU (and your family and friends), the House may choose to not pass a medical bill to alleviate the suffering of patients in Mississippi. Please continue to make your voices heard!
Let 2022 be the year Mississippi finally gets a medical cannabis program!
Contact your legislators in support of the medical cannabis bill.
More than a year after Mississippi voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to legalize medical cannabis, the Magnolia State remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law. Due to a technicality that overturned Initiative 65 (as well as the entire ballot initiative process), the patients of Mississippi continue to suffer needlessly.
Ask your legislators to restore the will of voters!
Legislators crafted a compromise bill in anticipation that Gov. Tate Reeves (R) would call a special session of the legislature last fall. But the governor never called the special session. There is a possibility that some legislators are getting cold feet and may not want to pass a medical bill or pass one that is so restrictive it does not resemble I-65 at all. The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session, and SB 2095 is the best legislation to accomplish the goal of medical cannabis in Mississippi. Click here for a bill summary.
The bill passed out of committee this afternoon and could get a floor vote as soon as tomorrow.
Reach out to your legislators right now to let them know you want an effective medical cannabis program. Without hearing from YOU (and your family and friends), the legislature may choose not to pass a medical bill or pass one that is so restrictive it will not meet the needs of the patients of Mississippi. Please continue to make your voices heard!
Urgent: Take action to protect medical marijuana in Mississippi
Click here to tell your state senator to vote NO on SB 2765.
We need your help to protect medical marijuana in Mississippi.
Last year, Mississippi voters approved Initiative 65 by a huge margin to put the state on track to establish a compassionate medical marijuana program for patients with serious health conditions.
But some state lawmakers are now trying to pull the wool over voters’ eyes by passing SB 2765, which would set up an entirely unnecessary “parallel” medical marijuana program alongside the one created by Initiative 65. In truth, this is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to severely restrict who can participate in Mississippi’s medical marijuana industry.
The Mississippi State Senate could vote on SB 2765 as soon as tomorrow. Please take action right now by asking your state senator to vote NO.
Click here to contact your state senator right now.
Though backers of SB 2765 claim that they are protecting the will of the voters, this legislation differs significantly from the voter-approved initiative. For example, SB 2765 would establish a whopping $200,000 application fee for cultivation businesses, create arbitrary limits on the number of operators in the market, and ultimately undermine patients’ access to medical marijuana.
Please take action now and urge your state senator to vote against this attempt to undermine patient access to medical marijuana in Mississippi.
Cannabis on the ballot
At MPP, we expect that for the fifth election in a row, voters in multiple states will approve cannabis reform ballot initiatives. This will put even more pressure on Congress to fix our broken federal cannabis laws.
Here’s a quick rundown of cannabis on the 2020 ballot:
Montana — I-190 and CI-118
MPP staff are playing an important role in the Montana campaign to pass dual ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana in Montana. While I-190 is a statutory initiative that would legalize marijuana in Montana for adults age 21 and over and establish a regulatory framework for cultivation and sales, CI-118 is a constitutional amendment that would allow the legal minimum age for marijuana consumption to be set at 21. Together, the measures would establish a commonsense approach to marijuana that helps veterans, improves public safety, and strengthens Montana’s economy. Read a summary of the measures here and donate to the campaign here.
South Dakota — Amendment A and Initiated Measure 26
MPP staff are also playing an important role in this exciting campaign, which will be historic. Until now, no state has approved medical marijuana and legalization for adults on the same ballot. Measure 26 would establish a medical marijuana program for patients diagnosed with serious health conditions, while Constitutional Amendment A would protect South Dakotans’ right to access medical marijuana and permit individuals 21 and older to possess and purchase up to an ounce of marijuana. Working together, Amendment A and Measure 26 would establish a commonsense approach to marijuana that provides relief to patients, improves public safety, and strengthens South Dakota’s economy. Read a summary of the measures here and donate to the campaign here.
Arizona — Prop. 207
After legalization suffered a narrow loss at the ballot box in 2016, a renewed attempt to end marijuana prohibition in Arizona is underway. The 2020 initiative (Prop. 207) is spearheaded by Smart and Safe Arizona and would legalize the sale, possession, and consumption of one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older. Read a summary of Prop. 207 here and donate to the campaign here.
Mississippi — Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A
Mississippians will have an opportunity to vote on two medical marijuana ballot initiatives this Election Day. Initiative 65, backed by Mississippians for Compassionate Care, would make medical marijuana available to Mississippians with debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, and ALS, under the care of their physicians. However, state lawmakers voted to put a competing measure — Alternative 65A — that puts greater regulatory control in the hands of the state legislature on the ballot, too. Read a comparison of the two initiatives here and donate to the Initiative 65 campaign here.
New Jersey — Public Question 1
Unlike most other marijuana policy ballot initiatives, which qualify through signature drives, New Jersey will vote on legalization this November thanks to a legislative referral. Spearheaded by NJ CAN 2020, Public Question 1 is a constitutional amendment to legalize the possession and use of cannabis for persons age 21 and older and legalize the cultivation, processing, and sale of adult-use cannabis. If enacted by voters, legalization will bring enormous benefits to New Jersey, including economic development and tax revenues, increased public health and safety, and important racial and social justice reform. Learn more about the question here and donate to the campaign here.
As you can see, we have several opportunities this November to advance important cannabis policy improvements at the ballot box, in red and blue states alike. Passing these reforms in conservative states, like South Dakota, could really amp up the pressure on Congress to pass federal cannabis reform in the coming year.
We could gain four more legalization states this Election Day! Get out and vote, and let’s watch the walls of prohibition crumble.