Supervisors opt out of marijuana, Sheriff agrees

Neshoba County supervisors, in a 4-1 vote, have opted out of medical marijuana.

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark on Tuesday endorsed the county’s decision because of several concerns, among them the lack of knowledge concerning regulations and regulatory authority in what is a 445-page bill that became law on Feb. 2.

“We need time to adapt and educate ourselves on mistakes that others have made,” Clark said.

Those mistakes made by other jurisdictions “will help guide us locally as we gauge the right time to opt in,” he said.

Clark listed three specific concerns:

• Increased impaired driving due to medical marijuana use. Officers will need to be better trained on roadside field sobriety.

• Marijuana dispensaries in other areas may create an increase of black market sale or old bootlegging type operations.

• Call volumes will initially increase due to county residents complaining of the smell of burning marijuana.

Clark said in a county that currently fields 4,445 calls annually, any increase will be problematic to the Sheriff’s Office.

District 5 Supervisor Obbie Riley was the sole vote for marijuana at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

“This has already been done,” said Riley about the Legislature enacting the law. “This is the worst thing. It is going put the burden on the county to have a special election is someone brings a petition with 1,500 names on it.
 
“This is cutting the citizens out of the opportunity (to use medical marijuana to treat pain) whether they want to or not. I can’t see it. When the Legislature passed this, they should have voted yes or no and left it at that.”

The new law allows cities and counties one chance by May 3 to opt out of legalizing medical marijuana. Cities and counties can always opt in, but they can never opt out after the 90-day window has passed.

The new law allows for the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, among other things.

The Medical Marijuana bill was signed into law on Feb. 2.

When local governments opt out, citizens can petition for an election to decide the matter on the ballot.

Supervisors will print a public notice in next week’s edition of The Neshoba Democrat to announce a public hearing at their next meeting, Monday, April 18 at 10 a.m. in the board room in the Courthouse.

They will listen to citizens’ comments on the matter. Afterward, they will hold a formal vote.

“The supervisors went ahead and made a motion to hold their vote on the medical marijuana at the next meeting on April 18,” said County Administrator Jeff Mayo. “They are providing public notice of their intent to opt out participating in the medical marijuana program.”

Supervisors expressed their concerns about the law and the need to wait and see.

“It’s what we don’t know about the law that concerns me,” said District 1 Supervisor Keith Lillis. “The option is to opt out and for me, I am going to vote to opt out.”

District 2 Supervisor Kevin Cumberland echoed Lillis’ concerns.

“I haven’t seen anything about how it will be governed,” said Cumberland. “I am voting to opt out.”

Likewise, District 4 Supervisor Kevin Wilcher spoke of the uncertainty. 

“Opt out is my decision,” said Wilcher said. “We can get in if we decide to. Right now it’s too much uncertainty.”

The Philadelphia Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to opt out and have a hearing on April 19.