After the Greenwood City Council voted this past week to opt out of Mississippi’s medical marijuana program temporarily, the Leflore County Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss Monday whether to do the same.
District 1 Supervisor Sam Abraham, who put the topic on the board’s meeting agenda, said he believes the board should opt out “until we all know what’s going on” with the program.
“I haven’t even read the whole bill. I need to look at the whole thing,” he said.
Passed in February, the state law legalizes the use of marijuana to treat certain medical conditions and allows Mississippians to apply to start medical marijuana businesses.
These businesses must follow a number of requirements. For example, marijuana must be cultivated in an indoors facility, and testing facilities cannot be within 1,000 feet “of the nearest property boundary line of a school, church or child care facility.”
Local governments have until May 3 to decide whether to opt out of the program; otherwise the program goes into effect. Those that opt out may opt in later.
Although the Greenwood City Council on Tuesday voted 3-1 to opt out, Mayor Carolyn McAdams emphasized that the move is only temporary until the city gets a better understanding of the rules and regulations. Other cities, such as Brandon, Pass Christian and Ridgeland, as well as George County, have also opted out.
District 3 Supervisor Anjuan Brown expressed caution, too.
“I just want to make sure the county is in good standing, that it has done everything required,” Brown said.
Board of Supervisors President Robert Collins and District 4 Supervisor Eric Mitchell both said they are not sure what direction the county will go but added that they intend to look into the details of the program.
“I 100% support the initiative,” District 2 Supervisor Reginald Moore said. “If that’s what the people want, I support it.”
He noted that a majority of voters in Leflore County approved of the legalization of medical marijuana in the 2020 referendum.
Although the referendum passed statewide, it was later struck down due to a constitutional technicality.
The state Legislature responded by approving a medical marijuana program earlier this year, and Gov. Tate Reeves signed it into law.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
