Magnolia State News

A citizens group founder and former mayor told Magnolia State News that he believes legislators are afraid to sign a petition to support medical marijuana use.

"Many legislators are scared to sign because they do not want to be held accountable," Shea Dobson, former Ocean Springs mayor and the founder of Citizens Alliance of Mississippi (CAM), recently told Magnolia State News."They may say they agree with our points but when push comes to shove, plenty of them will bow to what leadership or high-priced lobbyists want. We will expose everyone."

CAM is demanding that legislators respect the overwhelming majority of voters by passing Initiative 65, which would make a free and fair market medical marijuana program in the state, according to the group's website.

Mississippi voters in 2020 passed Initiative 65 over Alternative 65A by a large margin of 73.7% to 26.3%, according to Ballotpedia. Some differences between the two initiatives included qualifying conditions, limits in possession of marijuana, the tax rate and the number of licenses that would be issued.

In 2019, Initiative 65 sponsors submitted more than 214,000 signatures to the state, leaving the state legislature with three options:  it could have adopted the initiative by a majority vote in each house, rejected the initiative or placed an alternative initiative on the ballot alongside the original initiative.

Whether the legislature adopted or rejected the measure, the proposed amendment would have proceeded to the ballot. The state legislature placed 65A on the ballot alongside Initiative 65 in 2020.

But the state Supreme Court ruled in May that Initiative 65 was not sufficient because it did not comply with signature distribution requirements as required in the state Constitution, Ballotpedia reported.

CAM is asking legislators to sign a pledge to support the marijuana program that does not "institute licensing caps" and does not "require a minimum net worth to own or operate" in the industry.

"Sixty-five A was defeated, but they keep attempting to put back much of the other regulations from it in other bills," Dobson said. "Some of the key differences in 65 and 65a is that 65 had an actual start date, list of qualifying medical conditions, no caps on licenses and legal protection for patients/caregivers/doctors.

"We are asking legislators to sign the pledge in order to reassure their constituents that they will support a free-market program without licensing caps or net worth requirements," he continued. "We have 10 legislators signed to stand on principle. We have more calling every day and hope to grow that number."  

Dobson said that voters' voices have been stifled due to the state Supreme Court ruling.

"It is important for others to sign the pledge because we need our legislators to understand we are watching this very closely," he said. "Mississippians lost their voice in this ridiculous ruling by the Supreme Court, and we are fed up with politics. I have seen lobbyists at the Capitol pushing for red tape that would directly favor their clients. The people spoke, and it's time to put Mississippi patients first, not politically connected businessmen."

Dobson said he is seeking accountability of lawmakers and openness of the political process.

"As a former mayor, I saw the Jackson swamp firsthand," he said. "I'm not interested in benefiting from the swamp. I will make sure they are held accountable and the political process is brought into the open."