The Board of Alderman for the City of Brandon has voted to opt-out of the state’s developing medical marijuana industry. Only two other cities have voted to opt-out, including Ridgeland and Pass Christian, but more are expected to vote in the coming weeks.
These decisions will prevent businesses from participating in the sales and cultivation of medicinal cannabis. Brandon Mayor Butch Lee says the city may reconsider after the Department of Health finishes establishing regulations for the program.
“And that’s not going to happen until June, early July from what I understand. So there’s still some unknowns as far as the law, regulations and such. So I really can’t find any harm in waiting to see what the regulations are in the next few months.”
Residents are able to challenge the decision made by local governments by gathering signatures, and if the requirements are met a vote to opt back into the program will be held within 60 days. Angie Calhoun, Founder and CEO of the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance, says it is unlikely that municipal leaders will revisit the issues of medical marijuana after opting out.
Calhoun described her frustration with the vote, and says “Some will say this, ‘Oh well they can still have medical cannabis.’ The thing is, they can’t access it in their community. Because if Brandon opts out, where are those patients going to have to go?”
Cities and county leaders have two months to make final decisions on if they will opt out of medicinal cannabis sales and cultivation, or they will automatically be counted as opting in to the program.
