Mississippi continues growing medical marijuana, but will legislature protect patients in 2013?
For the fifth straight year, Sen. Deborah Dawkins (D-Pass Christian), a compassionate legislator, has introduced medical marijuana legislation to be considered in 2013. SB 2369 would authorize the doctor-recommended medical use of marijuana for patients with debilitating medical conditions.
Please email your representatives in Jackson today and ask them to support SB 2369!
In the irony of ironies, the University of Mississippi has been growing marijuana for the federal government's little-known medical marijuana program, the Compassionate Investigational New Drug program, for decades. Each month, the federal authorities send four patients a tin canister filled with about 300 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. If the federal government can grow medical marijuana for out-of-state patients in Mississippi, why can't Mississippi's seriously ill patients access the medicine they need?
Did you know Mississippi is a "decrim" state?
Mississippi is one of the 14 states that has decriminalized personal use marijuana possession. First offense possession of 30 grams (a little more than an ounce) is punishable by a $250 fine instead of jail time, and a civil summons as opposed to arrest, as long as the offender provides proof of identity and a written promise to appear in court. Even so, there were still 10,401 marijuana arrests and/or citations in 2007. You can learn more about Mississippi's marijuana penalties and enforcement by reading this report by Jon Gettman, PhD. You can also write your state legislators to ask them to end marijuana prohibition in the state and replace it with a taxed and regulated system, as Colorado and Washington state have done.
Stay Connected
To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in Mississippi, be sure to subscribe to MPP’s free legislative alert service.
