Home Political News Mississippi Special Session Won’t Happen for a Few Weeks

Mississippi Special Session Won’t Happen for a Few Weeks

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Mississippi Special Session Won’t Happen for a Few Weeks

September 27 saw Mississippi lawmakers announce their agreement on a medical cannabis program for the state. This bill would replace the voter approved measure the Supreme Court overturned on a technicality this past summer. Lawmakers, including Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, R, spoke with Governor Tate Reeves, R, about calling a special session this week to officially discuss medical cannabis and make it a law. 

However, Governor Reeves said he would call for a special session “sooner rather than later” rather than the week lawmakers requested. The governor still has concerns about the measure and says lawmakers need to come to a better compromise before a special session will be called. 

“There is no update on exactly when, but I do anticipate we are going to have one sooner rather than later,” Reeves continued at a press conference on September 29. “We are a long way towards getting a final agreement, but not all the way there yet. At this point it’s just a matter of working out the final details … things such as funding, an appropriation bill, what that would look like.”

Bill

Under the current draft of the medical cannabis bill, each sale would be subject to the state’s seven percent sales tax. An additional $15 per ounce excise tax would apply to each purchase as well. The medical cannabis program would run under the Department of Health, Agriculture, and Revenue congruently. Revenue from medical cannabis sales would go towards the state’s general fund, where it will be further distributed from there.

Recently, the Head of the Department of Agriculture for Mississippi has expressed disinterest in running and regulating the program while cannabis is still federally illegal. 

Response

House Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White spoke with local reports following Governor Reeves’ press conference. “12% will fund the program, certainly over and above. We think the fees alone fund the program, but if they don’t the taxes certainly will,” White explained. 

He added that the legislature will put forth a medical marijuana plan AND an appropriation bill. There’s no need for the governor to see it beforehand, he continued. However with the governor’s recent requests, an appropriation bill will most likely surface soon. Then a special session can begin. Until then, lawmakers have to work outside of the regular session. When lawmakers make their way back for this special session, we will update you with the latest. 

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