Subject Matter:

Relating to the Legalization of Cannabis  (See Comments)

Original Filing:

"THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT" TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS USES & INDUSTRIAL HEMP & TAXES COLLECTION INITIATIVE MEASURE SUMMARY Purpose/Definition: We the undersign intend to circulate and file a "Measure" means an amendment to the Mississippi Constitution 1890 by a petition of qualified elector under Section 273, Mississippi Constitution of 1890. We the people of the State of Mississippi ask Mississippi voters to amend The Mississippi Constitution 1890, for "The Mississippi Cannabis Freedom Act." We hereby petition Mississippi Secretary of State and Mississippi Attorney General Office for an official Serial Measure Number to collect signatures, from Mississippi's voter, to place this "Measure" on General Election ballot. We define "Cannabis" in "Measure" and/or Initiatives means also Hemp, Weed, Herd, Marijuana, Grass, Wax, Concentrate Extract and Hashish. MEASURE SUMMARY: WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ASK VOTERS TO AMEND MISSISSIPPI'S CONSTITUTION 1890, THIS MEASURE TITLED "THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT." THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT "SHALL" CREATE LEGAL CANNABIS MARKETS IN MISSISSIPPI FOR ADULTS', MEDICAL MARIJUANA, HEMP FARMING FOR INDIVIDUALS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND OVER IN MISSISSIPPI LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET. THIS "MEASURE" BY MISSISSIPPI VOTERS' GIVES STATE GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES, DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, CAREGIVERS, AND CANNABIS: PATIENTS, CULTIVATORS, MANUFACTURES, DISTRIBUTORS, SELLERS, USERS, AND/OR HEM FARMERS PROTECTIONS FROM PROSECUTION AND/OR JAIL BY THE GOVERNMENT (STATE AND/OR OTHERS). THIS "MEASURE" SHALL ALLOW MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO COLLECT CANNABIS AGRICULTURAL TAXES FOR EDUCATION (50%) AND HEALTHCARE (50%). MISS. CODE ANN. SECTION 23-17-11 (1972) MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATORS "SHALL" REDUCE, TRANSFER, REALLOCATE AND/OR ELIMINATE ANY OF THESE MISSISSIPPI DRUG POLICY PROGRAMS FOR FUNDING, $15,000,000 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, FROM MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF NARCOTICS, MISSISSIPPI'S DRUG ENFORCEMENT INTERDICTION AGENCY, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO STARTUP, IMPLEMENT, OPERATE, AND MAKE CANNABIS MARKETS RULES FOR THIS "MEASURE" PASSED BY MISSISSIPPI'S VOTERS. ANNUAL FUNDS TRANSFERRED SHALL BE USED, FOR CANNABIS OPERATIONS AT MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, FOR CANNABIS OPERATIONS AT MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, FOR CANNABIS OPERATIONS AT MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE, AND CANNABIS OPERATIONS AT THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM FUND. FUNDING EACH DEPARTMENT MANDATES, APPROVED BY MISSISSIPPI'S VOTERS, IS EXPECTED TO ADD AN ESTIMATED 7000 JOBS AND $120,000,000 USD ANNUAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IMPACT TO MISSISSIPPI ECONOMY. CANNABIS FUNDS "SHALL BE" TRANSFERRED, NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, WITHOUT 1.8% MONTHLY PENALTY, TO MEET VOTERS' MANDATORY IMPLEMENTATON, WITHOUT UNDUE BURDENS, REQUIREMENTS DEMANDED BY MISSISSIPPI'S VOTERS'. THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT SHALL BE EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER GENERAL ELECTION SUPER MAJORITY VOTE. ALL FEE'S, LICENSES, MANDATORY CANNABIS CLASS FEE'S COLLECTED FROM EACH DEPARTMENT WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM FUND FOR CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND CANNABIS MARKETS RULES MAKINGS. RULES FOR THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT "SHALL BE" SUBMITTED TO THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS COMMITTEE FOR FINAL APPROVAL BY DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM FUND, FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS' TIME PERIOD. INITIATIVE MEASURE TEXT MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION 1890 SHALL BE AMENDED TO ADD: MISSISSIPPI STATE REVISED STATUTES, FOR THE MISSISSIPPI CANNABIS FREEDOM ACT FOR MEDICAL, ADULT, INDUSTRIAL HEMP, AND TAX COLLECTION FOR LEGALIZATION/DECRIMINALIZE: Be enacted by the people of the State of Mississippi Voters: Section 1. Title This Act "SHALL BE" titled "The Mississippi Cannabis Freedom Act" Section 2. Definitions In This Act, Unless the Context Otherwise Requires: "Cannabis" means also Hemp, Weed, Herd, Marijuana, Grass, Wax, Concentrate Extract, Hashish "Hemp" refers to industrial Cannabis varieties cultivated for clothing, oils, rope, energy food, non-drug use "Marijuana" means all parts of plant of the genus Cannabis whether growing or not, and the seeds

Proposed Ballot Title:

Should the Mississippi Constitution be amended to legalize and tax cannabis pursuant to the Mississippi Cannabis Freedom Act?

Proposed Ballot Summary:

Initiative Measure No. 52 would amend the Mississippi Constitution to include the Mississippi Cannabis Freedom Act ("the Act"). The Act legalizes cannabis for persons eighteen years of age and older, legalizes cannabis for medical purposes, authorizes the collection of taxes on cannabis, and includes various other definitions and mechanisms for implementation of the Act. For purposes of this measure, "cannabis" means hemp, weed, herd, marijuana, grass, wax, concentrate extract, and hashish.

Initiative Petition:

N/A

Sponsor:

Steven Griffin Address: 50 Hoy Green Acres Circle Laurel, MS 39443

Status:

Expired

Town Meeting Location:

N/A

Initiative Information:

The official ballot title and ballot summary for an initiative measure are prepared by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Initiative measures are valid for one year. During this one-year period, a petition may be circulated to place the measure on the next statewide general election ballot to allow the voters of Mississippi to determine whether the measure should become a part of the Mississippi Constitution. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative measure to be placed on the ballot, a minimum of 106,190 certified signatures must be gathered, with at least 21,238 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts as they existed in the year 2000. This required number of signatures represents twelve percent (12%) of the total number of votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial general election. Signatures must be certified by county circuit clerks as belonging to registered voters in Mississippi. A completed petition should be filed with Secretary of State, together with a filing fee of $500.00. For more information on the initiative process in Mississippi, consult the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, Section 273, and Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 23-17-1 through 23-17-61 (1972).

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