"With this victory, tens of thousands of Mississippians with debilitating health conditions will finally be able to safely and legally access something that can alleviate their pain and improve their quality of life. We are hopeful that this move will add to the growing momentum toward cannabis policy reform in the South," said Toi Hutchinson, MPP's president and CEO.
"The concern is that by the time they get around to doing more licenses, the economics of the market will be so in favor of the existing operators that it’s going to be very difficult for small business operators and social equity applicants to compete," said DeVaughn Ward, MPP's senior legislative counsel.
"We have seen an evolution throughout the region and people are getting over the stigma cannabis has around it. Often what’s slowed the process is getting elected officials to catch up with the values of their constituents," said Kevin Caldwell, MPP's Southeast legislative manager.
"Despite tremendous support, Mississippians faced an uphill battle for a medical cannabis program. With this new law, justice has finally prevailed. Patients in Mississippi who are seriously ill will no longer be subject to arrest and criminal penalties for using medical cannabis and instead will be met with compassion," said Kevin Caldwell, MPP's Southeast legislative manager.
“As the power grab for control of the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry heats up, consumers and patients need antitrust protection,” argues Shaleen Title.
"The reality is, people’s support of this isn’t based on their political affiliation. It’s a nonpartisan issue," said Chris Lindsey, MPP's director of government relations.
Virginia lawmakers plan to take up a host of cannabis-related legislation this year in a narrowly divided General Assembly, following the body’s historic vote to legalize the drug for recreational use last year — when both the House of Delegates and the Senate were under Democratic control.
In an op-ed for Washington Post, the chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus calls for an end to cannabis criminalization. "Maryland has the opportunity to legalize cannabis right and with equity at the forefront. The time to replace the devastating war on cannabis with comprehensive, equitable legalization is now," said Del. Darryl Barnes (D-Prince George's County).
"The fact is that the patients of Louisiana could be better served by having more growers, more pharmacies. We would like to see more of a structure with not nearly as many caps, or uncapped if possible the number of growers, just to create competition which hopefully would lower some of the prices of flower for the patients of the state," said Kevin Caldwell, MPP's Southeast legislative manager.
"Today is an historic day for the patients of Mississippi. We congratulate the legislature for upholding the will of the people, and we call on Gov. Tate Reeves to sign this legislation into law when presented to him," said Kevin Caldwell, MPP's Southeast legislative manager.