Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. Section 23-17-45(1), we, The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, supply to you the ballot title and summary, arguments or explanations for and against each measure and alternative, Legislative Budget Office fiscal analysis and full text for Initiative Measure No. 65 and Alternative Measure No. 65 A (Statewide Ballot Measure 1).
BALLOT TITLE:
Should Mississippi allow qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions, as certified by Mississippi licensed physicians, to use medical marijuana?
Ballot Summary:
Initiative Measure No. 65 proposes to amend the Mississippi Constitution to allow qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions, as certified by Mississippi licensed physicians, to use medical marijuana. This amendment would allow medical marijuana to be provided only by licenses treatment centers. The Mississippi State Department of Health would regulate and enforce the provisions of this amendment.
Sponsor:
Ms. Ashley Ann Durval
Legislative Budget Office Fiscal Analysis:
The overall cost to Mississippi for the first year is estimated to be $11,068,150. The anticipated expenses for the first year to implement a medical marijuana program is $24,068,150 (Plants – seeds to Sale: $5,000,000; Licensing, Monitoring, Inspection: $16,220,150; and Cost to Collect Revenue: $2,848,000). The anticipated revenue is $13,000,000 (User ID Cards: $2,500,000; Commercial Licenses: $500,000 and sales fee at 7 percent: $10,000,000).
The anticipated expenses for years following the first for a medical marijuana program is $15,338,000 (Plants – seeds to Sale: $5,000,000; Licensing, Monitoring, Inspection: $8,756,000; and Cost to Collect Revenue: $1,582,000).
The anticipated revenue is $26,000,000 (User ID Cards: $5,000,000; Commercial Licenses: $1,000,000 and sales fee at 7 percent: $20,000,000). The overall annual revenue is anticipated to be $10,662.000, all of which must be used to support the state marijuana program.
Initiative 65 Full Text:
Section 1
The purpose of this article is to ensure the availability of and safe access to medical marijuana for qualified persons with debilitating medical conditions.
Section 2.