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Press Release
Mississippi Supreme Court Overturns Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 14, 2021
Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org
Marijuana Policy Project’s Statement on Mississippi Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Law
Jackson, MS — On Friday, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned Amendment 65, the medical cannabis law that voters overwhelmingly approved at the November 2020 election.
In response to this news, Matthew Schweich, the deputy director at the Marijuana Policy Project, released the following statement:
“Today is a cruel and tragic day for sick and suffering people in Mississippi. The state’s Supreme Court has issued a deeply flawed ruling to overturn Amendment 65, the medical cannabis law that voters overwhelmingly approved at the November 2020 election. As a result, tens of thousands of Mississippians with debilitating health conditions will be denied safe, legal access to something that can alleviate their pain and improve their quality of life. Instead, they will once again be treated as criminals under the law.
“To add insult to injury, this decision not only nullifies the will of hundreds of thousands of voters, it also effectively eliminates Mississippians’ right to bring forward ballot initiatives to amend their state’s constitution. The legislature must take action to fix the ballot initiative requirements and honor the will of their constituents by enacting Amendment 65 into law through the legislative process.
“Our hearts are broken for the patients in Mississippi who need access to medical cannabis, as well as their families who will continue to watch their loved ones needlessly suffer. We stand with them. The fight for a compassionate medical cannabis law in Mississippi will continue.”
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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.