JACKSON, Miss.—On Monday morning, Mike Watkins, a Mississippi medical-cannabis patient and consultant, rallied around 100 supporters near the Mississippi Capitol Building, organizing a protest against Governor Tate Reeves’ veto of two medical-cannabis bills, House Bill 1152 and House Bill 895.
The gathered crowd included medical cannabis patients, industry workers, caregivers, and advocates, united in their aim to advocate for a more accessible medical cannabis program. Governor Reeves expressed in his veto message that the bills exceeded the program’s intended scope.
In response to the veto, Watkins swiftly posted a call-to-action on Facebook, inviting individuals to join him at the Capitol for a peaceful demonstration aimed at encouraging the Mississippi Legislature to reconsider the vetoed bills and secure a veto-proof majority.
Advocacy and Legislative Support
During the protest, key figures in the legislature, such as Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, and Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, made brief appearances. Watkins praised their support and urged attendees to contact legislators who had opposed the bills. “We’ve got to sell it to everyone else,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
Watkins, a U.S. Army veteran, was joined by his service dog, Brooklyn Rza, and Elizabeth Feder-Hosey, founder of Mississippi Patient Voices. Feder-Hosey noted the importance of unity in pushing for legislative changes, stating, “This has been the ultimate team effort.”
Current Landscape of Medical Cannabis in Mississippi
Despite having approximately 68,000 registered medical cannabis patients, Feder-Hosey highlighted that nearly a million Mississippians could potentially qualify for a patient card. “We just haven’t reached them yet,” she mentioned, underscoring the outreach needed for broader program participation.
Gulf War veteran Devereaux Galloway reminded attendees that 74% of Mississippians had voted in favor of establishing a medical cannabis program through Initiative 65 in 2020. “Your power is in November,” he encouraged, reinforcing the importance of voter participation in future legislative outcomes.
Details of the Vetoed Bills
House Bill 895 proposed extending caregiver card renewal from one year to two years and removed the requirement for doctors to conduct a six-month follow-up with patients. This change would leave the timing of follow-ups to the discretion of the physician, raising concerns among advocates about patient care standards.
The bill also attempted to eliminate the 60% THC potency cap on medical-cannabis concentrates, allowing patients potentially to access stronger formulations. Reeves defended his veto by emphasizing the importance of maintaining safeguards within the existing Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act of 2022.
Continued Legislative Efforts
Rep. Yancey, who authored H.B. 895, stressed that Mississippi is unique in having THC limits on concentrates for both medical and recreational cannabis. He indicated that the veto could be overridden if a two-thirds majority is achieved in both legislative chambers.
In addressing the protestors, Yancey expressed gratitude for their support and outlined the urgency of determining the next steps within the remaining days of the legislative session.
Challenges and Future Directions
House Bill 1152 sought to expand access to medical cannabis by allowing individuals without qualifying conditions to apply at the discretion of the Mississippi State Health Officer. However, amendments introduced allowed out-of-state residents to access the program, which Reeves rejected, citing concerns over shifting the intent of the legislation towards recreational use.
In his veto message, Reeves indicated he remains open to carefully crafted legislation that could allow for medical cannabis usage under specific conditions for Mississippians in need, urging the Legislature to focus on targeted, effective proposals that maintain the integrity of the medical cannabis program.