Meadville weighs marijuana options

With the clock ticking toward an early May deadline for municipalities to decide the fate of medical marijuana in their jurisdictions, officials in Meadville have announced plans to hold a public hearing on the matter Monday, April 25.

Two area residents — Jack Hollingsworth and Hilda Peeler — appeared during the Meadville Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, April 12 to ask town leaders to “opt out” of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.

“I want to encourage you to opt out because I don’t see a lot of benefits from opting in,” Hollingsworth said. “The benefits do not outweigh the negative aspects of this.

“We really don’t know what will happen if we opt in on this, and by opting out you will have the opportunity to see the impacts of this on other communities across the state.”

Hollingsworth said he is also concerned Meadville and Franklin County do not have a large enough law enforcement presence to deal with issues tied to marijuana.

“The bottom line is that I don’t see enough good coming out of this to support it,” he added. “I can’t help but feel opting in would bring in elements we just don’t want.”

Peeler, who has spoken publicly on the matter before the board of supervisors, also brought her concerns to Meadville town leaders.

“I am here to ask you to opt out not because I think marijuana should be something we even need to discuss, but it’s here,” she said. “I feel opting out would be the best thing.”

Peeler said the Mississippi Department of Health has within the past few days have put a vast amount of regulations related to medical cannabis use on its website.

“I know no one has read all of those regulations or studied them ... there’s a lot of things to understand, but there is the deadline between now and May 3 for local jurisdictions to make,” she continued.

“In my mind, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered and I don’t believe there has been adequate time to make informed decisions.”

Peeler asked Meadville town leaders to consider several concerns about having any marijuana-related businesses locating within the town limits as well as land use-zoning requirements for where such a business could locate.

She also expressed worries about the potential for a black market with counterfeit medical marijuana use cards along with its potential for public consumption.

“We are asking that you consider the many options and impacts we will be facing,” she went on to say.

In February, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill passed by the Legislature legalizing medical marijuana and allowing individuals with debilitating conditions such as cancer, AIDs or sickle cell disease, to purchase up to 3 ounces per month with a prescription.

Towns, cities and counties across the Magnolia State have until Tuesday, May 3 to determine whether they will or will not allow certain medical marijuana-related enterprises to operate in their communities.

According to the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, a municipality or county can enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with the ability to govern the time, place and manner of medical cannabis establishment operations in their jurisdictions or can opt out of the process.

Alderman Charles Calcote asked for a special meeting to be called on the matter, which was set for Monday, April 25 at town hall.

Town attorney Will Halford said municipal leaders will have to decide to opt out or not opt out of the state-level act, which would allow for medical cannabis to be cultivated, processed and/or dispensed within the town’s corporate limits.

“If you opt out, that doesn’t mean card holders can’t go to a different place and get (medical marijuana) and possess it here,” Halford said.

“I also believe there are some exceptions for businesses that would be transporting it through the community. In looking at the issue, there’s a lot to it.”

Halford said one misconception is that medical marijuana use would be allowed in public.

“It cannot be done in public ... period,” he continued, “but it can be done in a private, residential setting.”

Additionally, he noted businesses can also maintain their existing drug-free requirements of employees.

Calcote said during last week’s meeting that 37 states — which now includes Mississippi — have some form of medical marijuana legislation in place.

“That said, there’s not a lot of people out there comfortable with it,” he said. “Three ounces is a pretty good amount of it per month.”

In addition, Alderman Kay Scott said it was her understanding that there are 22 conditions where medical marijuana could be prescribed for consumption.

Alderman Bart Jones questioned what would “opting out” mean to the town in the short and long terms.

Calcote responded that it meant Meadville would not participate in the act, but there is the option for town leaders to opt into the program or 20 percent of the population can call for a special election to consider opting in at a future date.

“If we choose not to opt out, come Wednesday, May 4, you will have (medical marijuana) forever,” Calcote continued.

Jones said he favored having next week’s public meeting to give residents a chance to come and have their voices heard — whether they favor or oppose the town opting out of the act.

“For this decision to be made, we need to have more than just a few people voicing their opinions,” Jones continued.

Halford said the town would post notices of the meeting — as required by the state’s open meeting law — in hopes of getting community input.

The session will be held beginning at 5 p.m., and Mayor Lane B. Reed noted the panel will likely vote whether or not it will opt out at the conclusion of the meeting.

The vote will be allowed as the board recessed its meeting held on Tuesday, April 12 and has the ability to conduct business, as necessary, before adjourning on April 25.