Legislative Session Update

Last Thursday, the Mississippi Legislature ended its 2021 Regular Session. The session was a very successful one for all of the people who have supported Initiative 65. Even though the Senate tried on at least four occasions to pass a medical marijuana program that would have undermined and weakened the initiative approved by 74% of the voters last November, the House stood with the people and defeated all of those attempts. On the other hand, with the House leading the way, the Legislature approved SB 2474 which amends various Mississippi laws to make it easier for the Department of Health to implement the provisions of Initiative 65.

The stage is now set for the Department of Health to get Mississippi's medical marijuana program up and running by the August deadlines. The only thing now standing in their way is the lawsuit filed by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler. Butler is asking the court to nullify last November's election, cancel the vote of the people, and generally eliminate the citizen initiative process in our state. The decision now rests with the nine members of the court.