JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi group advocating for medical marijuana legalization has turned in more than 105,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot next year.
News outlets report Mississippians for Compassionate Care submitted the signatures Wednesday to the secretary of state’s office, which now must review and certify the signatures.
The group and activist Ashley Durval registered the Medical Marijuana 2020 initiative last year.
Durval’s daughter, Harper Grace, hasn’t been able to receive marijuana extract oil for treatment of her rare form of epilepsy. A 2014 law named for Harper Grace nixed the oil from the state’s banned substances list.
The group is confident voters will support the measure. Others, including Gov. Phil Bryant, say there’s a lack of scientific evidence proving the benefits of marijuana treatment outweigh any risks.
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.
