Jackson, MS: Republican Governor Tate Reeves has vetoed legislation (House Bill 1152: The Right to Try Medical Cannabis Act) that would have granted physicians more discretion in recommending medical cannabis to their patients.
Veto Details
The proposal aimed to establish a pathway for practitioners to petition state officials, allowing patients with non-qualifying conditions access to medical cannabis on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, the bill included provisions to permit eligible out-of-state patients to participate in Mississippi’s medical cannabis access program.
In his veto message, Governor Reeves expressed concern that the latter provision “extended the ‘right to try medical cannabis’ to every person on the planet.”
Additional Legislation Vetoed
Governor Reeves also rejected separate legislation (House Bill 895) that sought to extend the validity period of a practitioner’s medical cannabis recommendation and eliminate THC potency caps on cannabis tinctures. The Governor argued that this measure aimed “to erode important safeguards … to minimize the potential diversion of medical marijuana for recreational purposes.”
Advocacy and Legislative Background
On Monday, advocates held a rally at the state capitol, calling upon lawmakers to overturn the Governor’s vetoes. Both measures had previously received approval from lawmakers by more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
Mississippi lawmakers legalized medical cannabis access in 2022, and nearly 60,000 patients are currently enrolled in the state-sponsored access program.
For more information on this legislation, visit [NORML](https://www.norml.org).
