Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn issued the following statement.
“The legislative alternative gives people who are in favor of medical marijuana a responsible pathway to having it. The alternative allows the public to vote for medical marijuana without legalizing recreational marijuana. Anyone who has read the proposed initiative 65 and listened to the debate on the House floor can see that there are tremendous problems with the initiative. It goes way beyond what it has been represented to be and comes extremely close to legalizing recreational marijuana. It does not allow the tax revenue from marijuana sales to be used by the State. It essentially exempts the sale of marijuana from local zoning ordinances. It totally removes the taxing and appropriation authority from the legislative branch and gives it to an executive branch, which is a complete violation of the separation of powers. Ultimately, it is not what most people mean when they say that they are for medical marijuana. Initiative 65 is not good public policy. The alternative passed by the House gives Mississippians the opportunity to vote for a legitimate, reasonable medical marijuana program that would meet the needs of those who could benefit from the program.”
Kingfish note: The resolution is posted below.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO CREATE NEW ARTICLE 16, SECTION 290 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, OFFERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 65, TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO ALLOW THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA PRODUCTS BY QUALIFIED PERSONS WITH DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, under Section 273 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, the people have the power to propose and enact constitutional amendments by initiative, and the procedure for doing so is set forth in Chapter 17, Title 23, Mississippi Code of 1972.
WHEREAS, following those provisions, the people have proposed Initiative Measure No. 65, which has a subject matter stated to be "medical marijuana for qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions," and this initiative measure will be presented to the qualified electors at the November 2020 election.
WHEREAS, when an initiative measure is proposed under this procedure, the Legislature may submit an alternative measure for the original initiative measure, which must be presented to the qualified electors at the same election at which the original measure is proposed, and under Section 23-17-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, such a constitutional initiative may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of each house of the Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state at the November 2020 election, as an alternative to the amendment proposed by Initiative Measure No. 65:
Article 16, Section 290, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, is created to read as follows:
"Section 290. There is established a program in the State of Mississippi to allow the medical use of marijuana products by qualified persons. The program shall be structured to include, at a minimum, the following conditions and requirements:
(a) The program shall be based on sound medical principles;
(b) The program shall be administered by an appropriate state agency; (Theoretically, that could include DPS.)
(c) The administering state agency shall seek the input of health professionals to help design the program;
(d) The program shall be limited to qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions as certified by health practitioners who are licensed under state law;
(e) Marijuana products that are used by qualified persons in the program shall be of suitable pharmaceutical quality and prepared by state-licensed manufacturers;
(f) Treatment of qualified persons in the program shall be carried out by physicians, nurses and pharmacists who are licensed under state law; (Pharmacists? You really think Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kroger, and other chains are going to allow their pharmacies to sell med marijuana?)
(h) The program shall provide for limited categories of marijuana preparation of suitable and verified quality standards for oral administration;
(i) The smoking of marijuana products shall be restricted to the treatment of qualified persons who have terminal medical conditions as certified by health practitioners who are licensed under state law; (Suppose one is suffering from radiation or chemo? The condition is not yet terminal but the side effects are a living hell that can't be eased by other means. Too bad, must be dying, first. )
(j) The program shall provide for a limited number of state-licensed manufacturers of marijuana products; (Limited number? Here we go. Hello crony capitalism. So much for free market conservatives).
(g) The program shall have a patient registry for program enrollment, patient tracking, and treatment outcomes assessment; and
(k) The program shall provide for reporting requirements that include research, analysis, and outcomes assessment."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendment proposed in this resolution as a legislative alternative to Initiative Measure No. 65 shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2020, in the manner prescribed by Section 273 of the Constitution and by Chapter 17, Title 23, Mississippi Code of 1972.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the ballot title for this amendment is proposed to read as follows: "Shall Mississippi establish a program to allow the medical use of marijuana products by qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions?"
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This constitutional amendment is proposed as a legislative alternative measure to Initiative Measure No. 65 and would establish a program to allow the medical use of marijuana products by qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions."
48 comments:
Bomgar did it to himself.
He won't be be bragging come Election be Day.
Hopefully, with this legislative effort, Bomgar and his fellow investors will have wasted all of their money in their scam that is nothing more than a self-enrichment scheme. This guy is pond scum in using his parents' cancer as his reasoning and then seeking contributions to have a seat at their table to plot a how to make money off their initiative.
I see that once again the bible bashes with their GED education are going to continue ruin everything for everyone else.
Excellent lies by Gunn. Way to kill the voice of the people. Well
done, do-nothing legislature.
Do the residents in Reunion realize that Phillip Gunn (R - Clinton) represents them?
Once again, our legislators knows better than we do what is good for us. Regardless of your stance on medical marijuana, the legislature introduced this bill to confuse the voter, so that it will split the vote and neither bill will pass. This tactic can be done for any referendum no matter the number of signatures on it to place it on the ballot. Do not think for one minute that your elected legislator works for you.
Did what? Got MM on the ballot. That's a good thing. The legislature would have never done anything if it wasn't for the ballot initiative and would have done everything they could to kill it regardless of what the initiative looked like.
Everyone in the Republican caucus will call themselves conservatives. But they're not. They're essentially traditionalists who don't like change and are largely still engaged in the war on drugs. Heck, they're scared by hemp.
I just wish Gunn and everyone would be honest and say they're against medical marijuana, and we want to kill this initiative, and this is the option we have.
457- Glad to see Trey Lamar gets up so early. Just wish it wasn't contemplating ways to raise taxes and fees and restrict our freedoms.
Excellent lies by Gunn.
Which are lies? Be specific. Since you think they are 'excellent' it should be easy for you to articulate your objections.
Surprised? If these options appear on a ballot, side by side, Peter Gunn (or is it Dick Gunn) and everybody else knows neither has a chance of being affirmed at the polls. It's simply the legislature's legal way of killing our right to a fair initiative and referendum process.
Mississippi will pass legalized medical marijuana in the year 2032.
Daves not here man......
Vote FOR Initiative 65
Gunn's agenda is to confuse the issue. Big pharma is in the house! and Senate!
One more reason Mississippi always finishes last.
"State registry" of users. Uh huh.
There needs to be a massive ad campaign for 65.
"a limited number of state-licensed manufacturers of marijuana products;"
Wonder how that came to be inserted into this bill? Any chance the "limited number" have been lobbying our fine, upstanding legislators?
Bomgar is not a consensus builder. He was never going to be allowed to attempt this end-around of the Legislature uncontested. Joel shot himself in the foot yet again. The temper tantrum on the House floor yesterday was classic!
Check the campaign finance reports. Gunn is just doing what Pharma tells him to do.
Looks like corruption and religion are going to Trump endless Tax Revenue this round. What a bunch of hayseed rubes.
While medical and recreational marijuana use continue to be illegal in MS, it is funny to me how everyone I know uses the stuff. It is quite socially acceptable. People I know from all walks of life and professions imbibe from time to time. They will all tell you it is harmless. People who drink alcohol and are against recreational marijuana are the biggest hypocrites in existence and there is a lot of them in the MS Legislature.
Legalized recreational marijuana would transform the Capitol city. Those well known Jackson neighborhoods where suburbanites creep slowly through and fuel the drug turf wars will be abandoned and gentrification of Jackson can finally begin.
Meanwhile the wealthy smokers in the state can take private flights to Colorado and return with their exotic strains, edibles, and other high quality recreational marijuana products.
“ This guy is pond scum in using his parents' cancer as his reasoning and then seeking contributions to have a seat at their table to plot a how to make money off their initiative.”
Excuse me, sir. I contributed to the initiative and have no dog in the hunt to make money. I believe in the cause, pure and simple. In fact, no one I know that contributed had any financial incentive to do so.
You’re dead wrong.
Also, who are you to question Joel’s motives and his feelings about his parents’ deaths?
Check the campaign finance reports.
Show us. Since you've looked at Gunn's reports, give us the details.
There needs to be a massive ad campaign for 65.
How much hard cash will YOU kick in? Put up.
Mr. Gunn and the Legislature need to eschew sesquipedalian obfuscation and superfluous verbiage.
Legal marijuana will be a waste in Mississippi. Most people here smoke mexican ditch weed rolled up in cigar skins that smell like dogshit.
Good cannabis is amazing and you only need to smoke a little to generate euphoria.
Better than all the billions of dollars worth of pharmaceuticals that the suits and soccer mom's keep using but never satisfies them.
9:22 = Lazy
Gunn rushed the floor vote without having the republican caucus even discuss the vote on HCR 39, which is definitely outside of the protocol. Many members were on the fence about voting for any kind of medical marijuana bill but flipped once Gunn flexed his muscles. When leadership sensed they might actually lose a vote on HCR 39, they hurried it through. The people pushing HCR 39 don't actually believe it is better policy, they know it is meant to dilute votes. Regardless of how people feel about Bomgar, the legislature is screwing with the process and needs to stay out of it.
He is called Gutless Gunn for a reason. Same genius that got Bill Denny beat.
Good recap from a national news source on what happened yesterday at the Capitol and the influence from an Arkansas dispensary owner.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/mississippi-medical-marijuana-measure-at-risk-after-house-approves-alternate-ballot-question/
Licensing caps. Isn't that what Louisiana did with casinos? How'd that work out? Wide open for corruption and payoffs.
Bill Denny beat himself this time KF. He knows what it takes to win and his lackluster effort allowed Yates to out-hustle him.
Regardless of how people feel about Bomgar, the legislature is screwing with the process and needs to stay out of it.
Bullshit. A Legislative alternative is part of the process and Bomgar knew the risks before he decided to play Major Domo with the MM effort. Whether you like it or not, that IS the process. No surprise Bomgar's arrogance has gotten in the way.
Will the Senate take up this bill, or will DH show real courage and allow the will of the people to prevail. Does who don't like 65 should campaign against it.
The legislature has passed on the opportunity to create a medical marijuana program for years, so a ballot measure is exactly the right path forward. Suddenly the legislature wants to "save the people from themselves" because they think HCR 39 promotes better policy than what 65 says? That is total crap, they know from experience that it's just to dupe the voters into thinking that the legislature has come up with a better approach but in reality it's just a way to kill the whole concept. This is nothing more than the legislature pretending to know what's best for Mississippians by swooping in and nuking the whole thing. If they really believed in what they were preaching, they would have taken the lead on this already.
This is nothing more than the legislature pretending to know what's best for Mississippians ...
They all were recently elected. Super majorities in both legislative bodies. Spin it however you desperately must but no pretending there.
Gunn’s language is messy for sure. Terminal and debilitating are two very different things, for starters. How will it be determined what state agency will oversee this? Now, tracking results is not a bad idea, but it should be a blind study - looking only at the medical issue, stats on the patient, and what is taken. But a registry of patients - sounds like that could get into some HIPA violations. And the limited number of manufacturers - how can this number be determined? Considering the vast number of varieties, not including edibles, limiting the number of suppliers only encourages price gouging. Basically, as others have said - this is just going to confuse voters who don’t take the time to educate themselves, think that people like Gunn know best, and make a mockery of the vote.
Whatever on this, either way fine - but can I just PLEASE buy real wine at the grocery store?
Jesus did not appear in the legislature 3 years ago and tell them it was finally not a sin to let craft breweries sell direct to the public in limited quantities. The big beer companies and their distributors told the legislature it was ok after years of fighting it. Why? Because they had beaten the craft breweries into submission and coerced them into agreement on a one-sided compromise that preserved the distributor monopoly.
Medical marijuana will not come to Mississippi until big pharma and the medical lobby say it can and only after they write the bill that allows them to reap all of the profits. Until then, you'll see games like this.
Change the speaker AND change the flag.
Gunn doesn't take money from pharma and healthcare?
https://cfportal.sos.ms.gov/online/portal/cf/page/cf-search/~/ExecuteWorkflow.aspx?WorkflowId=g729911d7-f399-46d6-a1ca-f15c1294f82d&FilingId=34894539-5DF9-4952-80FB-06101115E10D
https://cfportal.sos.ms.gov/online/portal/cf/page/cf-search/Portal.aspx?#
Don't tell me you are so lazy that you can't click on the links to the campaign finance reports on the SOS website.
It’s probably for the best that both initiatives fail anyway. Just think about how many hard-working, small time dealers would be out of a job if either passed.
Actually, now that I think of it, Gunn’s probably receiving briefcases filled with cash from the String Bells/Avon Barksdales of Mississippi and has their best interests at heart.
Directed to March 11 at 7:42,
Gunn’s statement is a blatant lie and scare tactic. The ballot initiative does not have a damn thing to with recreational marijuana. He states, unequivocally, that it will lead to recreational legalization. The first step to big government control is lie. The second step is scare. He managed to do both. As you are well aware, this will be the message of the campaign against the initiative. It’s clearly all about recreational legalization. That rich man Bomgar is using his parents to trick us. It’s ridiculous, dishonest, and offensive.
No one with a straight face can argue the concurrent resolution is better...unless you are a government body looking to profit off of it, or pass along some licenses to your pals.
You marijuana supporters are crazy like the anti-vaccine crowd. It’s 2020 and somehow we are “voting” on what is medicine. What’s amazing is your to stupid realize your are all morons. I like going to a real doctor, getting my drugs that went through the FDA approval process and going to a pharmacy with a licensed pharmacist and my medication has instructions like, how much to take,when and how long. How much dosage, side effects, what not to take with it. You psychos want to go to a strip mall, pick anything off the shelf and pay some dude named Skip in a man bun for your “medicine.” I’m kinda in to that science process stuff. I’m silly like that.
Gunn is an idiot! He only does what is profitable for himself! Please get him out of the legislature!
9:23, there is a lot of science at work in the marijuana industry today, but I imagine you're not really a science bloke at all.
9:23, you are a sheep. It is not about medicine, it is about personal freedom. It should be an adults CHOICE to use marijuana. It is harmless, not addictive and can do a lot of good. The same can not be said of the alcohol you probably mix with your government approved Rx.
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