JACKSON, Miss. – Lawmakers, medical cannabis patients, dispensary owners, and growers gathered at the Mississippi Capitol on Monday, urging legislators to override Governor Tate Reeves’ veto of two bills aimed at expanding access to the state’s medical marijuana program. Representative Lee Yancey, the legislation’s author, emphasized to the crowd, “What we’re doing is for the patients.”
Overview of Vetoed Legislation
The vetoed bills, House Bill 1152 and House Bill 895, had already passed both the Mississippi House and Senate before being rejected by Reeves last week. HB 1152, known as the Right to Try Medical Cannabis Act, would create a new pathway for individuals with serious illnesses to enter the program, even if their conditions are not included on Mississippi’s list of approved qualifying conditions. This bill would allow a treating medical provider to petition the Mississippi State Department of Health for patient access to medical cannabis.
Patient Advocacy and Needs
Mike Watkins, a veteran patient advocate, highlighted the measure’s importance for those whose conditions do not fit neatly into existing categories. “There are a lot of conditions that may not align perfectly, but patients still experience chronic pain or other symptoms,” he remarked. “This bill would open that up.”
Changes Proposed in HB 895
Supporters also advocated for HB 895, which proposes several changes to the current program. This bill aims to remove THC potency limits for certain products, extend caregiver registry cards to two years, and eliminate the automatic six-month follow-up visit requirement. Evan Dailey, a medical cannabis patient and business owner, argued that the THC cap restricts potency options for some seriously ill patients and increases their costs. “We are diluting medicine in its true form by 75% to 90%,” he explained. “Patients are paying more for relief that isn’t lasting as long.”
Call to Action Amid Legislative Pressures
The rally comes as advocates press lawmakers to consider overriding a governor’s veto as time runs short in the legislative session. Zach Schnoor from Pure Mississippi Farms expressed optimism: “It’s another bump in the road, but with the support and advocacy present in the Capitol, things are going to change.”
Watkins concluded by criticizing the governor’s predictions regarding cannabis, asserting, “Every single prediction that Tate Reeves has had about cannabis has been wrong, and they’re not going to start being right now.” Overriding a veto would necessitate a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature.