Madison the City became the latest in a handful of communities that have decided to take a pass on allowing certain types of medical marijuana businesses to operate in their jurisdictions.
Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler issued a statement Tuesday night posted on the Madison the City Facebook page that the city had decided to opt out, citing concerns over zoning and the impact on law enforcement and public safety.
Butler confirmed her statement via email and said that the vote was unanimous with seven board members voting.
“I do not oppose a true medical marijuana program with a prescription written by a medical doctor and dispensed by a local pharmacist, not acquired at a dispensary,” she said. “In my opinion, if it is truly medical it would not be combustible.”
Mississippi’s program allows for patients who qualify for medical marijuana cards to buy marijuana in multiple forms including tinctures, edibles and raw flower to be smoked.
Butler filed a lawsuit days before the November 2020 election challenging the legality of the state’s medical marijuana and argued that the state’s ballot initiative process was outdated.
The process was created in the 1990s when the state had five congressional districts. But due to population loss, there are now four districts. The State Supreme Court overturned Initiative 65 in May 2021.
More:Medical marijuana no longer coming to Mississippi: What you need to know
Cities and counties have until the first week of May to decide whether they wanted certain types of businesses to operate in their jurisdictions, specifically dispensaries, cultivators, and processing facilities. Last month Brandon, Ridgeland, Pass Christian, and Gluckstadt were among the cities that voted to opt out. Communities have the ability to opt back in at a later date.
Residents in those communities also have the ability to request a special election to opt back in, either by gathering signatures from 1,500 voters or from 20% of the population. The Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association has been leading efforts to gather signatures in some of the communities that have voted to not participate in the program.
More:Cities ‘opting out’ of medical marijuana in Mississippi create hurdles for new businesses
Read Butler’s full statement below:
“Tonight the City of Madison unanimously opted out of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. Our community is our priority. The limitations over our zoning authority, the waiver to allow dispensaries and grow facilities closer to our churches, schools and daycares without notice to the public, and the increased danger to our first responders are only some of the factors that guided our decision.”
Maria Clark is a general assignment reporter with The American South. Story ideas, tips, questions? Email her at mclark@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @MariaPClark1. Sign up for The American South newsletter. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
