Aldermen to certify petitions, set medical cannabis election
By Randy Bell
The final decision on whether medical cannabis businesses should be allowed to operate in Clinton will be in the hands of the voters. The Board of Aldermen at its February 7 meeting will certify petitions calling for the issue to be put to a citywide vote and will set the date for the election—most likely February 28, say City officials.
The State law which legalized medical cannabis allowed local governments to opt out, and the Clinton aldermen voted 5-2 to do that last April. But it also gives those who want medical cannabis the right to petition for an election to possibly overturn an opt out decision. Petitions containing the signatures of at least 1,500 of Clinton’s registered voters were needed, and the City Clerk’s office confirmed that the requirement had been met.
A company called Rootdown hopes to locate a medical cannabis cultivation and processing operation in the Clinton Industrial Park.
“We are very excited to get to this point,” says Rootdown partner Katie Snell. She says Clinton residents voted overwhelmingly in 2020 in favor of Initiative 65, which legalized medical cannabis (before the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the vote.) Snell says they look forward to the people of Clinton “reaffirming their position.”
Alderwoman-at-Large Ricki Garrett was one of the Board members who voted not to opt out.
“I did not think the Board should disenfranchise the voters who had approved medical marijuana by a seventy per cent vote of approval. I am glad they will have another opportunity to vote.”
Ward 4 Alderman Chip Wilbanks is concerned about a possible impact on public safety if medical cannabis is legalized in Clinton, calling it “a stepping stone” to recreational marijuana.
Wilbanks says, “I just personally hope people will come out and vote no.”
Wilbanks and Ward 1 Alderwoman Karen Godfrey point out that the people who want to build the cultivation and processing facility in Clinton are from Madison.
“If this facility is such a positive addition, why not locate it in their own hometown of Madison?” Godfrey asks.
Mayor Phil Fisher is hoping the legalization vote in Clinton fails.
“There are already numerous manufacturers in the state to answer the very limited number of people legitimately needing medical marijuana. As far as retail sales, there is very little financial benefit to having a retail presence in Clinton.”
Fisher says if a dispensary in Clinton had $1 million in sales, the City would wind up with only $12,950 in sales tax revenue.
The Board is also scheduled to vote on putting an ordinance in place to regulate medical cannabis businesses, should the referendum be approved.
But Ward 2 Alderman Jim Martin is concerned that some people may view adopting such an ordinance as an endorsement of the medical marijuana proposal—or an indication by the Board that voter approval is expected.
“It is my hope that the voters carefully consider weighing the advantages against the disadvantages and that approval of this ordinance not be a factor in the decision process,” Martin says.
