The State of the State Survey conducted by Chism Strategies and Millsaps College has found that more than 63 percent of Mississippi voters want the legislature to enact a medical marijuana law. Last month, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned Initiative 65, which had been adopted by voters in last year's general election and would have legalized medical marijuana. Nathan Shrader is Chair of the Department of Government and Politics at Millsaps College.
"Voters want the legislature and Governor to enact a medical marijuana law that's identical to the one they passed in November. They right now are treating the enactment of a medical marijuana law as their top voting issue," says Shrader. "And larger than expected share of voters say they also support going a step in legalizing recreational marijuana in the state."
There has been a statewide push by medical marijuana supporters for the Governor to call a special session of the legislature to create a new program as soon as possible. But Governor Tate Reeves says lawmakers would need to be close to an agreement on what a medical marijuana bill would look like before he makes that call. He says a prolonged special session the year before he became State Treasurer cost the state millions.
"They had had a special session that lasted 82 days. At $30,000-$40,000 a day, I'm not going to bring the legislature in and let them sit around and look at each other for 30 or 40 or 60 or 82 days. It just doesn't make sense. It wouldn't be fiscally responsible to do so. Right now there can be conversations and there are conversations that are ongoing."
The survey polled more than 650 Mississippians, and also voters for their attitudes on Medicaid expansion and the Governor's approval rating.
