Against 'Illogical Beliefs,' Medical Marijuana Earns Mississippi Senate Approval In 47-5 Vote
As Sen. Kevin Blackwell took the chamber floor Thursday morning, the DeSoto County Republican began reciting the words of a Bob Dylan song: “Well, they’ll stone you when you’re trying to be so good. They’ll stone you just like they said they would. They’ll stone you when you’re walking on the street. They’ll stone you when you’re trying to keep your seat.”
He was introducing Senate Bill 2095, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, which his fellow senators would pass later that afternoon in a 47-to-5 vote despite Gov. Tate Reeves’ threats to veto the bill. It would allow patients to receive up to 3.5 ounces a month for treatment for 28 qualifying illnesses.
Lawmakers drafted the legislation after the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down Initiative 65, a medical-marijuana program that voted overwhelmingly approved in 2020. If the bill becomes law, patients must obtain a diagnosis and a medical-marijuana card in order to become eligible for treatment. Medical marijuana would be taxed at the point of sale with the state’s 7% sales tax and with an additional 5% excise tax.
Despite strict regulations on who can obtain medical marijuana, the governor has described the bill as “recreational” and demanded greater quantity limits.
Read more: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/19670/medical-marijuana-earns-mississippi-senate-approval-in-47-5-vote/
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