Thread by @ashtonpittman

THREAD: Thousands of Mississippians will soon be able to access medical marijuana after Gov. Reeves reluctantly signed a limited bill into law despite.

But many Mississippians—including those with any mental illness other than PTSD—will be left out. 1/
mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

Under the medical marijuana law voters approved in 2020, doctors would've had discretion to treat patients with medical marijuana for an illness if they believed it'd help.

But the Mississippi Supreme Court struck the voter-approved law down in 2021. 2/mississippifreepress.org/12703/democrac…

The more restrictive bill Mississippi lawmakers drafted that Gov. Reeves signed only allows medical marijuana treatment for 28 qualifying illnesses, though @MSDH can add others.

No personality disorders or mental illnesses other than PTSD qualify. 3/mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

Gov. Reeves demanded the restrictions.

“There are also those who really want a recreational marijuana program that could lead to more people smoking and less people working with all of the societal and family ills that that brings," he said. 4/
mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

Contrary to Gov. Tate Reeves' claim that recreational marijuana would lead to "less people working," Colorado's labor force participation rate is about the same as it was when the state legalized recreational marijuana in 2012—despite a pandemic dip. 5/mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

The Legislature also cut the amount of medical marijuana allowed:

Rep. Lee Yancey: “That’s what 62% of our state voted on was to have 5 ounces. And then we moved that to 4 ounces. And then the Senate passed 3.5 ounces. And now we are offering 3 ounces." 6/mississippifreepress.org/19848/more-res…

Gov. Reeves demanded the restrictions.

“I have made it clear that the bill on my desk is not the one that I would have written. But it is a fact that the legislators...made significant improvements to get us towards accomplishing the ultimate goal." 7/
mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

Because of the reduction in the amount of medical marijuana allowed from the 5 ounces monthly approved by voters to the 3 ounces approved by lawmakers, Reeves said, “there will be hundreds of millions of fewer joints on the streets.” 8/
mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

“Now, hopefully, we can put this issue behind us and move on to other pressing matters facing our state,” Gov. Tate Reeves said.

(His 2022 priorities: "fighting CRT," ending state income tax, raising teacher pay, voter roll purges & hiring more police).mississippifreepress.org/20395/gov-reev…

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