Heated House debate over medical cannabis bill leads Senate to try to save measure

Tempers flared in the Mississippi House over a controversial medical cannabis bill passed by the Senate. The measure would serve as an alternative for Initiative 65.

Lawmakers in the Senate passed a medical cannabis bill to replace Initiative 65 should it be struck down by the Mississippi Supreme Court. The mayor of Madison is challenging 65, a constitutional amendment, over signature collections. Republican Joel Bomgar of Madison, helped spearhead the Initiative. He believes Senate Bill 2765 will not reflect the will of 74 percent of the voters who supported the referendum.

“You’re screwing over everybody who voted for 65. And you’re screwing over everybody who voted against 65. This is a no win situation. We are playing games with the voters and I ask that you oppose it and ultimately we need to make this entire thing go away,” said Bomgar.

Republican Trey Lamar, of Senatobia chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. He says they replaced the language in the Senate bill so it reads like Initiative 65. He urged the House to pass the measure so he could work with the Senate on a final piece of legislation assuring members he’s being upfront with them.

“You know me and I have not ever done that to you and it’s not my intention to ever do anything that’s tricky like that. So I am asking ya'll, let’s enact it. Let’s continue it along the process. There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing,” said Lamar.

Lamar says he supports having a medical marijuana law ready should the state supreme court strike down Initiative 65. The House didn’t vote on the measure. Lamar let it die but it could be brought back up. Some House members say they don’t want to vote on a replacement bill while Initiative 65 is being litigated.

Later in the day the Senate added an amendment to House Bill 119, that includes language from the chamber's Medical Cannabis bill to keep it alive. The House bill originally was written about a cannabis-derived oil that is used as medicine. The Senate also revived the possibility of a 7% sales tax on medical marijuana products in the cannabis measure.

Wednesday was a deadline day, and senators amended and passed House Bill 119. This means legislators can continue debating over medical marijuana regulations during the final weeks of the session, which is scheduled to end in early April.

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by Desare Frazier