Preliminary results from Mississippi indicate that the legalization of medical cannabis has passed with approximately 67% of the vote, as reported by the New York Times. Initiative 65, spearheaded by Mississippians for Compassionate Care’s Medical Marijuana 2020 campaign, garnered around 48% more votes than the state legislature’s Alternative 65A. Approximately 33% of voters opposed both measures.
Mississippians for Compassionate Care publicly celebrated their victory on social media. According to a fiscal analysis by Mississippi’s Legislative Budget Office, the first year of the medical cannabis program is expected to cost the state approximately $11.1 million, with projected revenue around $10.7 million annually in subsequent years, earmarked for program expenses.
Qualifying Conditions and Implementation
To qualify as a medical cannabis patient, residents must suffer from one of 22 serious medical conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, and epilepsy. Neither Mississippians for Compassionate Care nor representatives behind Alternative 65A responded to inquiries from Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary regarding the election outcomes.
Jamie Grantham, communications director for Medical Marijuana 2020, stated in July, “Our medical marijuana program in Mississippi will ensure that patients in need can access safe, regulated medical marijuana. It will be strictly controlled by the Mississippi Department of Health and only available at licensed medical marijuana treatment centers.”
Addressing the competing measure, Grantham expressed concerns that lawmakers aimed to confuse voters and fracture support, stressing that the absence of a timeline in Alternative 65A could impede the establishment of a medical cannabis program. “If they truly wanted to implement a medical marijuana program, they would have done so through legislation, but there have been over 25 attempts to pass such bills, none of which were allowed to progress to a vote,” she noted.
Legislative and Community Reactions
In late October, Mary Hawkins Butler, the mayor of a suburb of Jackson, petitioned the Mississippi Supreme Court, asserting that Initiative 65 is unconstitutional, as reported by ABC affiliate WAPT. Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, remarked in a statement, “Mississippi voters have demonstrated that medical marijuana legalization is viable even in conservative states. This victory is significant, given that voters saw through the legislature’s attempts to undermine Amendment 65 with a confusing and unnecessary alternative.”
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, echoed sentiments about the grassroots nature of Initiative 65. “This initiative prioritizes the needs of patients and provides access to a treatment option currently available in 34 other states and Washington, D.C. In contrast, Measure 65A represented a disingenuous attempt by lawmakers who have historically ignored this issue,” he stated.
Morgan Fox, media relations director for the National Cannabis Industry Association, added, “Mississippi voters demonstrated that they want their seriously ill loved ones to access medicine safely and legally. We urge the state to implement this initiative promptly, allowing Mississippians to obtain medical cannabis from reliable providers.”