3 ms·

This was a voter-led initiative and the state legislature tried to ignore it in last year’s legislative session. The governor was not a fan either. There were s

This was a voter-led initiative and the state legislature tried to ignore it in last year’s legislative session. The governor was not a fan either. There were some other leaders who tried to challenge it in court. So I wouldn’t make that strong of a claim that you’re making…it’s still a tough fight here and very conservative. In good news, the vote for the initiative was like 70% for it. Context on the state leg last year: https://mississippitoday.org/2021/03/22/medical-marijuana-and-taxes-the-hallmark-2021-legislative-efforts-are-likely-dead/ https://mississippitoday.org/2021/03/22/medical-marijuana-an... And the court case: https://mississippitoday.org/2021/04/14/mississippi-supreme-court-medical-marijuana-case-what-you-should-know/ https://mississippitoday.org/2021/04/14/mississippi-supreme-...

JumpCrisscross 5y ago
> was a voter-led initiative and the state legislature tried to ignore it That this was a grass-roots initiative makes it more durable. It also means challengers can use it as a wedge issue, at the state level and federally.
- greenie_beans 5y ago
  True, but my educated guess as an observer of Mississippi politics... The US will legalize recreational marijuana at a federal level and then give the states the ability to legalize it or not. The state will not legalize it, and if they do, then they'll leave it up to the counties to decide. Most of the counties will not legalize it because it's a very conservative state where Christianity informs the politics more than personal freedoms. And the grassroots efforts will have a hard fight because of how the power dynamics work in Mississippi. I'm very cynical about progressive politics in Mississippi because I've been a part of the grassroots movements and seen what actually happens. 100+ years of white supremacy is very effective at keeping the power structures in tact, because a lot of the voters are disenfranchised, gerrymandered out of having much power, or have moved away.
  - JumpCrisscross 5y ago
    > I'm super cynical about progressive politics in Mississippi If cannabis legalisation gets branded as a progressive issue it’s DOA. In Mississippi as well as in most states.
    - greenie_beans 5y ago
      "progressive politics" means something different to me in Mississippi than what it might in California. And it means something different to the typical Republican in Mississippi vs the typical Democrat. I define progressive politics as "social reform" for ordinary people, i.e. legalizing marijuana and making amends for the harm the former laws caused, free pre-k education, etc. Not whatever they paint it to be on FoxNews or CNN or whatever.
      - zozbot234 5y ago
        If you really want to make Mississippi more like California, your highest priority should arguably be to support economic freedom and moderately libertarian policy stances - not "progressive" ones.
        greenie_beans 5y ago
        lol what? your sarcastic comment has nothing to do with anything i said in my comment. but okay, if you want to go that route, then see what "economic freedom" and austere policy has done for mississippi's economy! (hint: it has crippled it.)
- enkid 5y ago
  Why haven't Democrats full-throatily supported legalization? I understand why Republicans haven't, but this seems so popular it seems crazy a major political party hasn't jumped on board.
  - throwaway6734 5y ago
    What class of voters would it win them?
  - woodruffw 5y ago
    The DNC is a center-right party that America's liberal and left blocs vote for because they don't have a viable alternative. They don't win any votes by supporting legalization (they have all those reluctant votes anyways), and publicly supporting legalization gives their far-right opposing party free ammunition (the DNC wants your kids to be stoned, urban crime, &c.). So it's all downside, with no upside.
    - pmoriarty 5y ago
      "They don't win any votes by supporting legalization (they have all those reluctant votes anyways), and publicly supporting legalization gives their far-right opposing party free ammunition (the DNC wants your kids to be stoned, urban crime, &c.). So it's all downside, with no upside." In today's polarized climate, you can say that about almost any issue whatsoever. Compare the Democrats' reluctance to take on and lead on issues to the modus operandi of the Republicans, who have not hesitated to innovate and lead in the political sphere even when the ideas they float are laughed at and villified by their opposition and the mainstream media. Despite that they still manage to fire up their base, change the national conversation, and get their leaders elected. Democrats don't have to have the equivalent of FOX News or conservative talk radio (they tried that with Air America[1] and failed), but they could show some backbone and actually lead rather than always reacting to Republicans framing the issues. The nation has clearly moved on past believing in Reefer Madness style anti-cannabis propaganda, and even the risk-averse Democratic leadership should recognize that cannabis legalization is an issue with broad national support and that this is a leadership opportunity. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_(radio_network) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_(radio_network)

JumpCrisscross 5y ago

> was a voter-led initiative and the state legislature tried to ignore it That this was a grass-roots initiative makes it more durable. It also means challengers can use it as a wedge issue, at the state level and federally.

greenie_beans 5y ago
True, but my educated guess as an observer of Mississippi politics... The US will legalize recreational marijuana at a federal level and then give the states the ability to legalize it or not. The state will not legalize it, and if they do, then they'll leave it up to the counties to decide. Most of the counties will not legalize it because it's a very conservative state where Christianity informs the politics more than personal freedoms. And the grassroots efforts will have a hard fight because of how the power dynamics work in Mississippi. I'm very cynical about progressive politics in Mississippi because I've been a part of the grassroots movements and seen what actually happens. 100+ years of white supremacy is very effective at keeping the power structures in tact, because a lot of the voters are disenfranchised, gerrymandered out of having much power, or have moved away.
- JumpCrisscross 5y ago
  > I'm super cynical about progressive politics in Mississippi If cannabis legalisation gets branded as a progressive issue it’s DOA. In Mississippi as well as in most states.
  - greenie_beans 5y ago
    "progressive politics" means something different to me in Mississippi than what it might in California. And it means something different to the typical Republican in Mississippi vs the typical Democrat. I define progressive politics as "social reform" for ordinary people, i.e. legalizing marijuana and making amends for the harm the former laws caused, free pre-k education, etc. Not whatever they paint it to be on FoxNews or CNN or whatever.
    - zozbot234 5y ago
      If you really want to make Mississippi more like California, your highest priority should arguably be to support economic freedom and moderately libertarian policy stances - not "progressive" ones.
      - greenie_beans 5y ago
        lol what? your sarcastic comment has nothing to do with anything i said in my comment. but okay, if you want to go that route, then see what "economic freedom" and austere policy has done for mississippi's economy! (hint: it has crippled it.)
enkid 5y ago
Why haven't Democrats full-throatily supported legalization? I understand why Republicans haven't, but this seems so popular it seems crazy a major political party hasn't jumped on board.
- throwaway6734 5y ago
  What class of voters would it win them?
- woodruffw 5y ago
  The DNC is a center-right party that America's liberal and left blocs vote for because they don't have a viable alternative. They don't win any votes by supporting legalization (they have all those reluctant votes anyways), and publicly supporting legalization gives their far-right opposing party free ammunition (the DNC wants your kids to be stoned, urban crime, &c.). So it's all downside, with no upside.
  - pmoriarty 5y ago
    "They don't win any votes by supporting legalization (they have all those reluctant votes anyways), and publicly supporting legalization gives their far-right opposing party free ammunition (the DNC wants your kids to be stoned, urban crime, &c.). So it's all downside, with no upside." In today's polarized climate, you can say that about almost any issue whatsoever. Compare the Democrats' reluctance to take on and lead on issues to the modus operandi of the Republicans, who have not hesitated to innovate and lead in the political sphere even when the ideas they float are laughed at and villified by their opposition and the mainstream media. Despite that they still manage to fire up their base, change the national conversation, and get their leaders elected. Democrats don't have to have the equivalent of FOX News or conservative talk radio (they tried that with Air America[1] and failed), but they could show some backbone and actually lead rather than always reacting to Republicans framing the issues. The nation has clearly moved on past believing in Reefer Madness style anti-cannabis propaganda, and even the risk-averse Democratic leadership should recognize that cannabis legalization is an issue with broad national support and that this is a leadership opportunity. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_(radio_network) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_(radio_network)