Lawmaker fighting to legalize medical marijuana in Mississippi

Rep. Omeria Scott of Laurel, fresh off a battle with cancer, is fighting to keep alive a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Mississippi.

"We're trying to provide information to our citizens," Scott, a Democrat, said Monday. "There are many who can benefit from this treatment."

Scott's bill, House Bill 1371, is called the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Act of 2019. There are other bills in the House and the Senate to legalize medical marijuana, but most political observes don't believe the bills will pass this session. Tuesday is the deadline to pass such bills out of committee.

Scott said her cancer is in remission, but believes medical marijuana could help some people dealing with pain and other conditions.

The Legislative Black Caucus conducted a public hearing Monday at the state Capitol on the legalization of medical marijuana in Mississippi.

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Dr. Victor Chou, founder of the Medical Marijuana Clinic of Louisiana, attorney Bethany Nieubauer with the American Cannabis Co. in Denver; and Michael Mayes, a member of the Chicago-based International Cannabinoid Research Society, made presentations.

Louisiana is one of about 30 states that have legalized medical marijuana. Chou said patients can't smoke, inhale or possess raw marijuana. The medical marijuana can only be used orally, topically or as a suppository.

In Louisiana, medical marijuana is used for chronic pain, seizures and epilepsy, spasticity, nausea and vomiting, cachexia and wasting syndrome.

Scott said a recent poll done by Millsaps College showed 67 percent of the respondents supported medical marijuana in the state. 

The planned 2020 ballot initiative to allow for the use of medical marijuana for qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions is also popular with the public, with 67 percent supporting the proposal.

The January 2019 Millsaps College/Chism Strategies State of the State survey included medical marijuana as one of the issues Mississippi voters supported.

Medical Marijuana 2020 is the initiative to place the issue on the November 2020 ballot. The initiative is funded and operated by Mississippians for Compassionate Care, a group pushing for medical marijuana to help those suffering from chronic and debilitating medical conditions.

The group needs 86,125 signatures to place medical marijuana on the 2020 ballot.