Governor Tate Reeves posted the following announcement on medical marijuana on his Facebook page.
Medicinal or Recreational marijuana? That is the question.
I’ve repeatedly told the members of the Legislature that I am willing to sign a bill that is truly medical marijuana. One that has reasonable restrictions to ensure that it doesn’t have an adverse effect on Mississippi’s economy. One that has reasonable restrictions to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt Mississippi families. A program that helps those Mississippians who truly need it for an illness.
In many ways, the work done on the original draft of the Legislature’s bill helped address some of these issues. There is one remaining point in question that is VERY important: how much marijuana any one individual can get in any given day.
Unlike any other drug, this program allows virtually unlimited access to marijuana once you qualify. There is no pharmacist involved and no doctor setting the amount. There is only what legislators call a “budtender” serving you pot.
We don’t have “pilltenders” for other medicine. This is unique.
The bill allows any individual to get 3.5 grams of marijuana per day. A simple google search shows that the average joint has 0.32 grams of marijuana. Therefore any one individual can get enough weed to smoke 11 joints a day. Every day.
In Oklahoma (which has a similar system of dispensing to what is proposed) 376,000 Oklahomans have signed up for a marijuana card. That is roughly 10% of the population of the entire state. An equivalent sign-up rate in Mississippi would yield 300,000 Mississsippians with a card to get up to 11 joints per day. That would allow the disbursement of 3.3 million joints per day in our state, which is the equivalent of approximately 100 million joints per month.
That would be 1.2 billion legal joints sold in Mississippi per year. Call me crazy, but I just think that’s too broad of a starting point.
I am asking the Legislature to simply cut that amount in half to start the program. It is a simple fix.
If it is determined in the future that more pot is needed in Mississippi, that could always be increased in future legislative sessions. Why not start carefully? I believe that is a reasonable approach.
If you disagree, I respect your opinion. We can sit down five years from now and take a thorough review of the actual outcomes. But—as the dad of three daughters that I love dearly—I cannot put my name on a bill that puts that much marijuana on the streets of Mississippi.
I hope that legislative leaders will see fit to consider reducing the tremendous amount of weed they seek to make legally accessible so that I can sign their bill and we can put this issue to rest.
God bless you, Mississippi!!
81 comments:
Gov. Reeves doesn’t known how much cannabinoids a person requires for pain management. So he needs to rethink this one as his ignorance and prejudice are showing.
The THC content of marijuana varies greatly, depending on the type or strain of the weed. Eleven joints may produce a much lower "high" than a single joint of a high quality pot. Seems like THC content should be the relevant unit of measurement, not number of joints.
Has he ever heard of a Blunt, you can’t even make two a day with that!
Gubner Tater likes to act like he's one of those 'by the numbers' guys.
Except when the ony numbers he pulls out of his chair sitter are to justify whatever preconceived notions he already has. Or that he needs to support hs talking points he peddles to his loyal base.
If Gubner Tater thinks eleven joints per day is too many, then how many jonts per day does he think a terminal cancer patient or chronic pain suffer should have access to in Tater's Mississippi?
Five?
One?
Remember Tater doesn't need to smoke the 0.32 gram joint with the terminal cancer patient, he just signs the bill so they can't be prosecuted in Mississippi.
It's about time for Gubner Tater to tell folks just how much marijuana he's in favor of!
Once the barn door is opened it can't be controlled. If taxed, it creates a black market of untaxed pot. The Mexican cartels will be involved, period.
Proceeds can't be deposited into a bank nor credit union, as it is still illegal under federal law. This creates a situation where large amounts of cash are kept on hand. Do you think that Jackistan thugs would be robbing the pot stores?
Follow the money...right into the pockets of MS legislators.
1. A simple visit to medical marijuana dispensaries across the country will reveal that prerolls (marijuana cigarettes) are sold normally in three sizes: .5 grams, 1 gram, or 1.5 grams. A tobacco cigarette has about 1 gram of tobacco. Because I am a numbers guy, I have calculated that 3.5 grams of marijuana could be rolled into:
7 prerolls that contain .5 grams each
3.5 prerolls that contain 1 gram each
2.33 prerolls that contain 1.5 grams each
2. The one billion number assumes that the prerolls are .325 grams (a smaller size sometime sold illegally on the streets). It also assumes that no one in the medical marijuana program will use any other form of medical marijuana than prerolls. (edibles, beverages, topical products, ointments, tinctures, and suppositories.
3. This program is limited to qualified patients with specific debilitating conditions as diagnosed by a medical practitioner.
Do it.
Gov. Reeves doesn’t known how much cannabinoids a person requires for pain management.
Neither do you. Arbitrary is as arbitrary does.
Kudos to the Governor for recognizing that this whole charade was/is a back door effort to provide recreational dope.
Alabama passed a medical marijuana law where it can be prescribed, but not in a smokable form. If we have to have a medical marijuana law, why not something like that?
I only smoke 3 a day so I am okay with his position.
But do you have the votes Lee to override a veto? I don't think you do.
3. This program is limited to qualified patients with specific debilitating conditions as diagnosed by a medical practitioner.
How naïve.
All right. No flooding the comments with mm links. No one is going to click through all those links.
So links to published on topic materials no longer welcome here?
Gov. Reeves is and has been doing a disservice to the people that are suffering from nausea 2nd to chemotherapy and the many other medical problems that could have been relieved by the passage of the bill. Every day that he has delayed it's enactment people have suffered.
As far as recreational use- Yes! that needs to be included Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug, does not lead to violent crime and certainly causes less physical problem from long term use that does alcohol. Tax it, control it but it's almost 2022 not 1968!
Wonder what kind of paper he talkin about ?
Where does that leave my gummies?
That's not what i wrote and you know it. The key word is "flooding". Don't like it, go home.
Im investing in sweet milk and Oreos, Gonna be rich yall!!
When asked how many joints are in a lid, Chong in one of the Cheech and Chong skits said, "I know this. One! I roll big joints."
All funded by the munchies industry.
I love all these comments. All the pothead losers know the weights and measurements for weed but are too dumb to find their own 401k and take care of their own medical insurance premiums.
This whole “medical marijuana” thing is a joke. No science. Nothing about self-reliance. Just a bunch of loser pot smokers that want to sit on the couch, get high, and have my taxes pay for their stupid life decisions.
Anything Mississippi government does IS NEVER for the good of the common man or women! No wonder each census the population get lower & lower! Bubba & friends is going to smoke out on the deer stand all day long. Even the deer are getting high. The ghetto crew have an unlimited supply thanks to the cartel!
So, the sick people & peoples in chronic pain are S**t out of luck.
Thank You Tata Tot for nothing.
From a veteran with shrapnel in his pelvis that can't be removed
Kudos to the Governor for recognizing that this whole charade was/is a back door effort to provide recreational dope.
Who the f*ck cares!? The damn idiot is always talking about "Mississippians know what's best for them"
He's gotta go!
I think Lee Yancey needs to ask Bryan Bailey for his opinion. I doubt Bailey is in favor of flooding the streets with medical pot.
Is there an issue with cancer patients in Mississippi being hauled off to jail for smoking weed? I can't seem to find any information anywhere showing that's a problem.
Dude, if weed helps your pain just think what some morphine could do. Heroin or fentanyl would be even better. Why stop with a little buzz? Go big or go home, man.
10:55 AM, are Mexican cartels in the weed business still? Me thinks they have moved onto bigger and better things.
I’m guessing the Gov rolls small joints for a quick trip as opposed to medical patients needing longer term pain relief.
yet we allow anyone to drink a tub worth of alcohol.
and many of them drive home.
come on- that’s a lot more dangerous than medicinal marijuana.
Why not limit alcohol purchase to same equivalent amount. Drunks cause much more damage to society than maryjane.
Too bad he doesn't believe in the democratic rights of the people who already voted what they wanted. Commie Tate is a disgrace to this state and the founding principles the country was built on. Shame on you Tate.
It's pretty funny seeing all these outdated opinions by the boomers. They really have no idea how ignorant they are on the subject and seem to be relying on Cheech and Chong for their criticisms.
11:56- “nausea”. Ok stoner.
I love the drivel you list as to why it should be legal. Unfortunately you are incorrect.
This whole thing is a big effing scam and you all know it. Shame on our "leaders".
It has bipartisan support. Pass the bill on day 1 and ram it up Tate’s ass. He is playing both sides of the fence on this thing. Coward.
As if you can’t get a joint within 5 minutes anywhere in the state today. At least create some jobs and make some tax money and get the gangs out as middle man.
We were just one of only 3 states to lose population in the last census. Looks like that won’t change. And trust me, it’s not democrats leaving in droves. They are still multiplying.
It's pretty funny seeing all these outdated opinions by the boomers.
Which comments above your own were from 'boomers'? Be specific.
We lost 6018 people. That isn't a drove. 0.2%. Exaggerate much?
1:46, heroin has been prescribed for pain to tens of millions of Americans. It’s in a form called opioids and millions are helplessly addicted. But big pharma makes money on it and writes big checks to legislators. Just check the campaign finance reports of the legislators who oppose MM.
Medical marijuana is legal in Florida. But you don’t see shops on every corner like the fear mongers claim. It’s a non-event in Florida.
Keep us in the back woods forever Tate. Keep flapping in the wind like you did with Covid.
@2:11 PM - follow the money (to legislators present and past).
As an employer I know for a fact when someone has been smoking and not been smoking. Those that do are glassy eyed, sloowwwww and their reflexes show it! They are a danger to other workers and to themselves. Under the influence of anything is….under the influence
3:14 count your little victories I suppose.
Just make possession of a half ounce or less a misdemeanor , fine them a hundred bucks, and be done with it . Works fine in Louisiana and the locals love the cash flow.
I am someone that smokes cigarettes, used to drink a fair amount, and has smoked dope just about every day for 40 years. As such, I can tell you that marijuana is the least dangerous of the three, by far. You can call me a stoner if you like, but I own my own business and I am relatively successful.
I also have three grown children. The thing that would make me the saddest would be if they started smoking tobacco. As long as they do it in moderation, I have no problem with them drinking or smoking dope, if they want to.
It is time to do serious research into marijuana. I understand that there is not much data on it because it has been illegal for so long. It was made illegal back in the 1930s for extremely dubious reasons. Read up on it.
I am in favor of medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. It is easily available right now anyway. Why not tax it? I seriously doubt you will see an explosion of people starting to smoke it if it is legalized. Even if you do, if it stops people from drinking alcohol so much, then fine.
Way back in my 20s I drove drunk a few times. Never got arrested but regretted doing it. I have driven high as well. I regret that as well. However, in my opinion, a drunk driver is much more dangerous.
Just my two cents. I don't really care how many joints a day Tater Tot says we should be able to get. With high quality dope, one or two a day would probably be fine.
Just remember, as far as I know, nobody anywhere has ever died from an overdose of marijuana. It doesn't work that way.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans die every year from tobacco and alcohol. Zero Americans die every year from marijuana.
10:46, you are correct, but that is part of the issue the Governor is raising about the "legislative leadership's" bill. It has no controls or issues regarding THC levels, just a quantity. The Governor asked early on that the THC content be considered, but those negotiating with the industry refused to do so. (They claimed some kind of concern about getting into the prescribing business, but their answer made little sense to me at the time.)
Granted, it is easier to get people's attention by pointing out that under this proposed law a person could get enough weed to make 11 joints a day, every day, and call it medicinal. Rep Lee Yancy tried to make fun of this number recently at a breakfast meeting, but his example failed to be factual - just good political PR for himself and his negotiated law.
But the Governor's math is correct, and was one of the issues brought up about I65 which allowed 2.5 ounces per customer every 14 days, similar to what is in the proposed legislation. Even for those that aren't regular users, it is easy go Google the issue and find that 1 ounce can make approximately 84 normal joints. Do the math and the Governor's numbers are probably a little low.
Would be nice to relate the number of joints to the THC level, but since this is not medicine (it is not prescribed, it is only licensed) they (the legislative leaders) claim that regulating the strength is not an option.
Yet, can regulate how much but not the strength? Riddle me that and let me know why one is ok but not the other.
11:33, we can't have that (like Alabama does) because Rep Yancy and Sen Blackwell decided we can't. They caved to the industry who wants to write the bill and allowed smoking even when it has been proven that smoking has no medical benefits, except possibly relieves pain quicker. It does ignore the fact that smoking weed is just as bad for someone as smoking cigarettes.
Frankly, I'm not opposed to those that are dying from incurable cancer and are suffering from the effects of treatment to allow them to smoke it however they choose. But that is a different issue than what the proposed legislation will allow - which is, anybody that can pay for a doc to write a license to procure, can smoke, eat, drink, whatever they want.
Other than the cancer patient that is suffering from the chemo, we should adopt the AL concept of not allowing smoking. But there are some powerful folks in the legislature that see too many dollar signs from their investment to allow such reasonable thinking.
If the intent is truly for for medical purposes, make allow it in a non-smoke form.
4:22 is spot-on.
Let’s calm it what it is folks. It’s weaklings that just want to get high. It has nothing to do with “medicine”.
What is the limit of how many kegs you can buy for frat and high school parties now?
4:00, you are a menace to Missippians. Please move to California, as you'll be much happier there.
2:34 I don't smoke weed and I don't drink.
I am a medical doctor and have some knowledge of the issues.
Beside the clearly proven use for treating chemotherapy educed NAUSEA- which is a huge problem for cancer patients that need all of the calories that they can get. The main drug to treat Parkinsonism causes stomach upset which is the main reason that people have to stop taking the drug is also greatly relieved by marijuana.
Most of the patients would like to get relief as quickly as possible so a smoke able form needs to be available.
As to why people just don't get the weed that they need is the fact that Mississippians are generally law abiding people and a waiting until it is legal. Some however are taking other controlled substances that if they used marijuana, they would not be able to get the other medicine that they need. They are tested and if found to have used marijuana they are precluded from getting the prescriptions.
Why can it not be prescribed in a pill form?
"heroin has been prescribed for pain to tens of millions of Americans."
Bullshit. Heroin cannot be prescribed, per the FDA. My DEA license/number allows me to prescribe morphine and numerous drugs stronger than that(e.g. fentanyl, etc), but there is no legal way to prescribe heroin except, theoretically, in a research study under the most restrictive circumstances you can imagine.
We lost 6018 people. That isn't a drove. 0.2%. Exaggerate much?
There are actual towns in this state that barely have 1000 people!?
Edwards, MS
Eupora, MS
Carroll County has 10k residents, now just imagine if they lost 6000 residents!? It becomes a tad bit more tangible when the state loses 6000 residents when you apply it to real locations.
Hmmm...which MS legislator has millions invested in pot farming? Hint Joel is the first name and Bomgar is the second name.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
7:23, OK “doc”. 😉
This is America! Land of the free. It should be legal period. It is my choice to smoke weed. No one else should have a say. Alcohol is from the devil and no one gives a shit. What a bunch of hypocrites!
The governor thinks this position will get him reelected it will not
3:14, as a conservative Republican, my only experience with these comments is that all three of my college educated kids have taken jobs out of state. They have started families and they are not coming back. Same for a lot of their friends. If you want to argue numbers, have at it. But college educated whites in their 20’s are moving out in droves. Yes droves.
It took them over a year to determine how to create the lottery and we were copying the lottery from some other redneck states. Our politicians still don't know what they are doing even when we let others draft the bills for them. Does Oklahoma's have governor have a background in banking as well?
Remember how strenuously they defended citizens from craft beer? Only after their big donor beer distributors negotiated a deal with brewers did the legislature decide it was ok. They only think with their campaign account and opinion polls. Tate doesn’t give a rats ass about anything else, including our health, and neither does any legislator. I do think Tate is misreading the younger half of his party.
The "trend" of losing population is not the friend of Mississippi.
Losing 6018 is a significant symptom....and someone should be paying attention, and get this precancerous spot removed now, not later.
@ Hookah
It took them over a year to determine how to create the lottery
You make a good point, but technically it took them well over 20+ years because they were too stubborn to believe that Mississippi residents were taking their dollars over into Tennessee and Louisiana to go play in their lotteries.
Look at how much money the state recouped by finally starting one.
Lord willing they'll (the msleg) do the right thing and reinvest in the hardest hit areas economically in the state. But that's too much like right
This is strictly tates ego.
He wants to be “smart” and lord knows he’s not.
The state needs the tax revenue.
The patients need this form of medicinal relief.
Other states provide it and patients will find a way to get the relief they need.
Appease Tate….make him feel smart (like his boss Trump) and get this passed for the benefit of all Mississippians…..which is what this is actually about.
There is a fine line between "governing" and "dictating". The latter is very dangerous when an individual who might hold too much power over the people they have been selected as a "governor". Bringing your lack of expertise and applying that to your emotional value of your daughters really is no basis for governing. I would ask Tate one simple question: "Have you served in a combat zone, killed people or watched your buddies die, or been in the midst of significant violence where you were convinced you would die?" I'm thinking that young Tate has not done so as all I've witnessed is a person campaigning for office and serving in offices. Has Tate experienced crushing daily pain from REAL diagnoses such as Trigeminal Neuralgia, constant headaches, PTSD and Cancer? Has this young man served as a medical expert. How about this, Governor? Why don't you stand back on this one and allow the people of this State make such decisions? Or you can micromanage thousands of bars and restaurants in Mississippi, making sure that each alcoholic gets a full check by police officers before being allowed to order another drink? I'm with you on many of your positions, including human life, but I can't fathom a single person being allowed to dictate (to the microgram) how much painkiller each person may have. Joseph Stalin personally decided (to the gram) how much people were allowed to eat, per person, per day. I'm afraid you don't want to step to that level? Or do you?!
... as a conservative Republican ...
So your some sort of authority?
... which is what this is actually about.
BS. It is about cracking the door open to create a path for recreational dope.
Comparing Reeves to Jos Stalin? ROFLMAO You dopers will stoop to anything to get your weed. ROFLMAO
@7:23 my kids are probably friends with your kids, they are liberals but the have quite a few Republican friends.
11:46, I suppose I am. It’s very clear to me that young conservatives are fleeing to Texas, Florida and Nashville. I’ve seen it by the dozens first hand. They are rejecting the 1950s style of the Mississippi leadership keeping us on ignorant and backwards. The base that Tate is pandering to is dying out but he may squeeze out one more term.
Jobs, jobs, jobs. People leave for jobs not because we don't have medical pot.
"Kudos to the Governor for recognizing that this whole charade was/is a back door effort to provide recreational dope."
Amen!
1. Those pushing "medical" marijuana are using/manipulating and generally taking advantage of the tiny number of people whose medical situation might be helped by it in order to get it for themselves.
2. Like in FL, there would be a whole new layer of "doctors" specializing in abusing the system to keep them stocked for the party.
3. Moreover, marijuana is not that difficult to get. If I or my loved one in a health crisis could possibly be helped by it I wouldn't be waiting around whining for a law.
jobs, jobs, jobs is correct. and Tate is not helping at all. government does not create jobs, it just gets in the way. what has tate ever done other than suck on the government teet and collect campaign donations?
Young college educated folks may be leaving Mississippi in higher numbers than we would like, but it likely has absolutely nothing to with legalizing marijuana. It’s greater economic opportunity. Businesses won’t decide to invest or not invest in Mississippi based on marijuana laws (except those in the pot industry).
[Senator] Michel said he agrees with Reeves on the amount of marijuana allowed under initiative 65 and draft legislation developed in anticipation of a special session. Michel said the amount of marijuana allowed under both measures would be equivalent to a recreational marijuana program.
“Many people I’ve talked to in Madison County since that vote did not realize that that bill was more of a recreational marijuana bill disguised as a medical marijuana bill,” Michel said. “When I told a lot of people that Dr. Dobbs, our state health officer, told us that in that bill, the amount of the doses would allow around 10 medical marijuana cigarettes a day, then that was way over what many people felt was reasonable.”
Man I read some of these comments and realize what a bunch of jackaunuses posted here. Y’all some bad ass dudes. Oh hell no to no damn marijuana. Do you come up with these comments before or after you’ve drank a six pack? What exactly is your issue? That marijuana will take over the world and destroy the very fabric of your worthless lives? Yes some tuff hombres, NO DAMN WEED FOR ME. Then don’t. Go your numbskulliosis asses to the liquor store and be happy instead of posting dip shit Reefer Madness bull crap about shit you know nothing about….. PAIN!
There will come a day hotshots when life will catch up with you and the stupid things you did while you were younger will wake you up at night. No worries right I’m a bad ass. Except when your older it will get exponentially worse until you finally make that appointment with your doctor. But he can only help a little because the DEA is breathing up his ass to keep prescriptions low. Then in a few years when the pills stop working you’ll look for something else. One wonders just how long you hard ass clowns suffer before you start looking for some weed! I truly hope you can’t find any, because you deserve it!
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