On the morning of January 13, a 46-5 vote in favor of Senate Bill 2095, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, saw the State Senate legalize the federally illegal plant for recreational purposes.

Then, on Wednesday, January 19, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed a revised version of the medical cannabis legalization bill with a 104–14 vote.

Based on the amended version, concerns that were previously discussed by Gov. Tate Reeves (R) have now been addressed.

The Senate’s decision to approve the bill occurred after the Governor dismissed numerous suggested amendments. Included in the list of rejected changes was one permitting outdoor cultivation.

After the Senate turned down a different measure that would have outlawed cannabis flower/edibles sales and require pharmacists to dispense the medicine, the Senate proceeded to approve SB 2095. 

The session was definitely one to remember. Senator Blackwell, author of the legislation, kick-started the debate by presenting Senate members with a bag of pre-rolled joints and hemp samples to give an idea of the quantities outlined in the bill.

Supreme Court rescinded similar measure for medical cannabis in Mississippi last year

Back in November 2020, an extensive medical cannabis legalization initiative was approved by Mississippi voters. Unfortunately, the proposal was rescinded on jurisdictional grounds in May 2021 — a move that has prompted lawmakers to figure out a new plan over the last few months.

Despite the push from lawmakers to introduce a new bill for medical cannabis in Mississippi, a question mark still hovers over the subject of its   potential passing. Threats from Gov. Tate Reeves (R) have particularly concerned legalization advocates, with the Republican indicating that he might veto the measure due to its suggested purchase limits.

Reeves says that the purchase limits are too steep. He’s not the only one who has raised concerns about the bill for medical cannabis in Mississippi. A number of state officials are cautious about the prospect of cannabis-based medicines being too expensive for qualified patients.

Nonetheless, lawmakers who back the bill remain confident that they will gain the necessary votes to steer the legislation in the right direction. 

Main sponsor of the bill Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R) fought against the governor’s threats, as well as other threats implying that Mississippi’s medical cannabis measure might provoke lawmakers to legalize the plant for recreational purposes.

“I suggest that if you think that, maybe you should take the time and actually read the bill, because you’ll find that it is a medical bill,” Blackwell said during his time on the floor.

Should the eagerly anticipated legislation be enacted into law this session, it’s likely that a medical cannabis program in Mississippi will be fully active later in 2022. The legislation now makes its way to the House for consideration.

About Mississippi’s Medical Cannabis Act

SB 2095 is heavily influenced by provisions that lawmakers contemplated during the second half of 2021. At that point in time, legislative leaders were gearing up to present a cannabis-focused measure at a special session. However, the session never actually took place.

Should the latest effort to legalize medical cannabis in Mississippi be approved, patients who received a diagnosis for one or more of the two dozen medical conditions currently listed on the suggested eligibility criteria would be able to legally obtain cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation. These conditions are subject to change.

Anyone who wishes to register for medical cannabis in Mississippi would need to apply for a state-issued registration card at a cost of $25. However, the cost could be lowered for  select patents.

According to legalization lobbyists, the 445-page cannabis reform proposal indicates that lawmakers are working towards establishing a happy medium between the more relaxed plan that gained approval from almost three-quarters of state voters in 2020 and a much more restrained approach that was favored by a handful of lawmakers and the governor.

The passing of Mississippi’s Medical Cannabis Act depends on it receiving a three-fifths supermajority support in both chambers.