The Brandon Board of Aldermen voted to opt out of the medical marijuana program during a meeting Monday. City leaders voted 5-2 against medical marijuana.Cities and counties in Mississippi have until the first week of May to decide if they want medical marijuana businesses or not. “At this time, if you opt out, you can opt back in. Cities can come back in if they choose to,” Brandon Alderman Harry Williams said.Williams said the city needs more time to understand the rules and regulations of the state’s new marijuana business, much of which still has not been set by the Mississippi State Department of Health.”It was voted on by the state of Mississippi. It was approved by the people of the state of Mississippi,” Williams said. “Some people in Mississippi want it, but I think as a government of a municipality, we have a right to be sure it is regulated correctly.””If they are planning to opt out, then you can most likely guarantee they will not opt back in,” said Angie Calhoun, with the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance. “However, there is a referendum, and it can go back into the people’s hands.”Ridgeland has already opted out and prompted a petition drive to allow residents to call the marijuana decision back up for a public vote. It only takes 1,500 signatures to do that.”If the board wants to wait, I would propose we wait,” said Brandon Mayor Butch Lee. “Get 1,500 signatures, we get into our next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. I put money in the budget to have a special election.”Lee said the city needs more time to see how the medical marijuana business will operate in this new climate of medical cannabis.”When the Department of Health hasn’t come up with regulations yet, you are kind of asking people to opt-in on something that you don’t know what you are opting in on,” Lee said.The state still has not listed its rules and regulations for licensing and operations of grow farms, labs and dispensaries.
The Brandon Board of Aldermen voted to opt out of the medical marijuana program during a meeting Monday.
City leaders voted 5-2 against medical marijuana.
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Cities and counties in Mississippi have until the first week of May to decide if they want medical marijuana businesses or not.
“At this time, if you opt out, you can opt back in. Cities can come back in if they choose to,” Brandon Alderman Harry Williams said.
Williams said the city needs more time to understand the rules and regulations of the state’s new marijuana business, much of which still has not been set by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
“It was voted on by the state of Mississippi. It was approved by the people of the state of Mississippi,” Williams said. “Some people in Mississippi want it, but I think as a government of a municipality, we have a right to be sure it is regulated correctly.”
“If they are planning to opt out, then you can most likely guarantee they will not opt back in,” said Angie Calhoun, with the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance. “However, there is a referendum, and it can go back into the people’s hands.”
Ridgeland has already opted out and prompted a petition drive to allow residents to call the marijuana decision back up for a public vote. It only takes 1,500 signatures to do that.
“If the board wants to wait, I would propose we wait,” said Brandon Mayor Butch Lee. “Get 1,500 signatures, we get into our next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. I put money in the budget to have a special election.”
Lee said the city needs more time to see how the medical marijuana business will operate in this new climate of medical cannabis.
“When the Department of Health hasn’t come up with regulations yet, you are kind of asking people to opt-in on something that you don’t know what you are opting in on,” Lee said.
The state still has not listed its rules and regulations for licensing and operations of grow farms, labs and dispensaries.
