Lauderdale County Supervisors hear Public on Marijuana Act

The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act decision is still on the table for Lauderdale County. The board of supervisors heard public opinions today before they take a vote on May 2nd.

In a public hearing, this morning Bill Arlinghaus went before Lauderdale supervisors giving his reason for why he believes the county should opt-in the cannabis act:

“Well, I think that medical marijuana is good as a therapeutic for people that actually genuinely need the plant. The opportunity, through dispensing or distribution of it in a monitored fashion, helps bring tax revenue to the city of Meridian. Sales tax revenue and cultivation bring jobs and possibly better infrastructure. In addition, when you have a state that has already approved it, the voters have overwhelmingly been in favor of medical marijuana.”

Gary Johnson suffers from glaucoma and says he was advised that marijuana would help stop the progression of the condition although he does not use marijuana, he believes it should be made available as an option for those with a medical condition.

“ I understand those who say, well, this is just an opportunity for abuse but there are so many other individuals who suffer from other things other than glaucoma, like myself, that this medical marijuana could really be beneficial to making their lives more manageable, helping them to keep food down, helping with their anxiety levels and just different benefits of medical marijuana”, said Johnson.

If a county or city does not make it clear that they want to opt out of the act, then they will automatically be considered as opting in. As of now, the city of Meridian has made no comment on what they plan to do.

“If the county opt-out, my concern is an increase in the crime rate, because when you have areas that are adjacent to each other, one of which you have one legal status and one where you have another legal status. And think back way back to Colorado when they made it legal early, but it wasn't legal in the surrounding states, you had an increase in homelessness, an increase in crime. And it can happen on either side of the border, but then you get the concentration of crime. When you get the concentration on crime, you tend to get more of it. I want to see that avoided”, Bill Arlinghaus.

The board will meet again on May 2nd to vote, a day before the state’s deadline.