Court decision leaves Mississippi medical marijuana, other ballot initiatives in limbo

Legal experts and state lawmakers were left bewildered after a Mississippi court ruling deemed ballot initiatives for the last 20 years were unconstitutional.

A ruling last week by the Mississippi Supreme Court has left law experts and state leaders in a state of confusion over the future of medical marijuana, which was overwhelmingly supported by voters in a ballot initiative in November. The judge's decision could also have a major legal impact on 20 years of state initiatives, according to a legal expert. On Friday, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler who sued the state over the November 2020 ballot Initiative 65, which establishes a legal medical marijuana program. The measure passed with roughly 74% of the overall vote, and medical marijuana dispensaries were slated to open this year. The court's justices, however, said the ballot measure was unconstitutional due to a loophole that they said was beyond their control.