The Lowndes County chapter of “Team Legalize,” a statewide group seeking the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana, continues to debate the best way to appeal to the public.
For Laura Fondrem, it’s all about the money.
“We’re a state with genuine culture and promise,” Fondrem said. “We’re in the poverty cycle. This is our chance to get out and lead the South.”
The group met Saturday at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library to discuss their message and decide on how to best get citizens to sign their petition to get a ballot initiative in front of Mississippi voters in 2016.
Ballot initiative 48 would legalize the use, cultivation and sale of cannabis and industrial hemp statewide. It would regulate the sale of marijuana in the same way alcohol is distributed, through licensed vendors. All recreational cannabis sales would be taxed 7 percent. Like alcohol, cannabis would be sold to persons 21 and older. Cannabis sold for medical purposes and industrial hemp would not be subject to taxes. Those wishing to grow more than nine cannabis plants would be required to buy a $25 annual permit from their local circuit clerk. Anyone farming more than 500 plants would pay $1,000 annually.
Taxes collected from cannabis under ballot initiative 48 would go directly to Mississippi public schools until 2020, when the direction of the money can be reviewed by state lawmakers.
The initiative also calls for the pardoning of non-violent cannabis offenders from the governor.
Team Legalize estimates income from cannabis with seven percent sales tax would be $17 million in the first seven months of sales.
At its first Lowndes County meeting last month, the group gathered 66 petition signatures. About 10 more came in to sign it throughout the two-hour meeting of group leaders Saturday.
Statewide, the petition needs to gather 107,216 signatures by October to put ballot initiative 48 in front of voters in 2016. The state is divided up into its five former congressional districts, each requiring 21,433 signatures.
Group leader Joe Rauhoff said there are currently around 1,400 signatures submitted statewide, but added the number is misleading because many signatures have been turned in to organizers and not yet handed over to circuit clerks.
“We need to get people registered to vote,” Trevor Shipman said.
Shipman, 26, is among the younger leaders of the group, which ranges widely in age and background. He said the group needs to develop a symbol or slogan to help get into the heads of voters.
Rauhoff, Fondrem and Shipman spoke of a shared concern: They said they know many people who would vote to legalize marijuana at the polls, but finding people willing to put their name, address and signature on a public petition will be difficult.
“The stigma involved with this is obscene,” Fondrem said. “We have to meet this ignorance with facts and a united front.”
Rauhoff said many local businesses are aiding in the gathering of signatures. Official petition documents can be signed at Divergent Tattoo, Michael’s Sports Bar, The Tobacco Shed on Highway 45, Sensations, Johnny Kelly’s Lounge, The Elbow Lounge and Cabana Liquor Store.
The group is hoping to have a booth at Market Street Festival in May.
Rauhoff said he was told by circuit clerk Haley Salazar they could put up booths 35 yards away from polls at the pending special election to replace local Congressman Alan Nunnelee, who died this month.
“The biggest thing right now is we need to get organized,” Shipman said.
The group will hold another meeting at Columbus-Lowndes Public Library on March 14.
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