Mississippi Senate passes medical marijuana bill. House to take up issue

The Mississippi Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve a bill creating a medical marijuana program which would allow people with certain conditions to use cannabis if a doctor prescribes it.

Five of the 52 senators voted against the bill after three hours of debate and six proposed amendments failed.

The bill heads to the House where it is expected to be debated and possibly amended.

The Senate’s passage comes 14 months after voters in Mississippi overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana program at the ballot box, and nine months since the state supreme court overturned the referendum and nullified the state’s ballot initiative process.

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, drafted the bill after several public hearings and input from lawmakers, lobbyists, trade groups and possible medical marijuana patients and growers. Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, worked closely with Blackwell in drafting the bill.

While floor debate lasted hours, there were some light-hearted moments. Blackwell passed around samples of hemp, which looks the same as marijuana, but lacks the psychoactive chemicals.

The samples showed what an ounce of cannabis would look like, what 3.5 grams would look like and what a 1.5-gram joint looks like. [Read more at Clarion Ledger]