Mark Braboy
Associate Editor
As we are halfway into the decade, the national conversation about the legalization of marijuana is slowly becoming a more progressive one.
States such as Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical use. Others like Illinois, New York, Michigan, California, Nevada, Arizona, and twelve other states have only legalized it for medical uses.
However, the always progressive state of Mississippi has yet to allow it to be legalized in either fashion. At least not all the way.
Right now, Mississippi is one of several states where it has been decriminalized and the only place that can grow, research, and distribute medical marijuana is the University of Mississippi. Decriminalization is not the same as legalization however. While it is a crime to be in possession marijuana, in small amounts offenders only receive a fine and minimal jail time.
According to norml.org, the current laws in Mississippi for possession of 30 grams or less can range from a $250 fine on a first offense up to a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail and a $500 fine for a third time offender. Anything above that is a felony and if marijuana is found in your car in a place other than your trunk, it is a misdemeanor.
Sure that is what the laws in the books say, but according to the Marijuana Policy Project, blacks are 3.9 times more likely to be arrested for possession than whites in Mississippi, no matter the laws.
In my opinion, at this point the best solution for Mississippi to prosper is to call for complete legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana.
Not only that, the development of marijuana dispensaries across the state, starting with Jackson, could effectively combat the marijuana drug trade and its illegal distribution throughout the city. It would be easier and safer for people to obtain medical marijuana for medicinal purposes. This would also alleviate the problem of people using marijuana laced with other strange substances.
The amount of revenue that the state could take in would allow Mississippi to flourish. According to Colorado’s Department of Revenue, the state has made over $40 million in tax dollars within the first ten months of legalization. This could potentially open the window for more job opportunities statewide and more money being invested into things like our public education system, public transportation, city infrastructure, and even Jackson State University can receive more funding.
Speaking of JSU, if marijuana were to be legalized, it could also allow the university a chance to be able to participate in research, harvest, study, and produce medical marijuana the same way the University of Mississippi has been able to since 1968 for added revenue.
Fortunately, Mississippi could be walking in the right direction. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, the Mississippi Alliance for Cannabis is currently collecting over 100,000 signatures for the Ballot 48 initiative by Oct. 2 of 2015, so legalization can be voted on in 2016. They also report that in 2014, Mississippi has passed a law for certain types of medical marijuana to be used for patients who have debilitating seizures.
So while it appears that the conservative state of Mississippi is slowly moving in the right direction, Mississippi has a very long way to go. If marijuana were legalized, the state could flourish in ways we could only dream of. But that’s only if they decide that they finally want to make a progressive step forward.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represents the views of The Blue & White Flash.
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