Bradley Partner Whitt Steineker Quoted in Marijuana Business Daily on Mississippi Medical Marijuana Measure

Bradley attorney Whitt Steineker was quoted in Marijuana Business Daily on a constitutional challenge in Mississippi that seeks to nullify a medical marijuana legalization initiative – after voters overwhelmingly approved the measure last November. At stake is a potentially huge, business-friendly MMJ market in the South. In a recent hearing on the matter, Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph appeared to be in favor of striking down MMJ legalization, but some justices appeared supportive and others didn’t ask questions, so it’s difficult to assume how the court will ultimately rule.

“It was a little dispiriting if you were in favor of legalization,” said Steineker. But, as “for predicting an outcome, if I was on a casino on the Mississippi River, I’d probably find something else to bet on.” He said it could come down to a 5-4 vote.

Steineker also said that if the Mississippi Supreme Court shoots down MMJ legalization, it will “undo the will of a supermajority of the people and fundamentally alter the ability of Mississippians to utilize a ballot initiative procedure in the foreseeable future.”

But he noted that, in the meantime, the state’s health department is moving forward to develop rules and regulations by July 1 for a MMJ industry in Mississippi.

The original article, "Mississippi High Court Hears Arguments Contesting Medical Marijuana Measure," appeared in Marijuana Business Daily on April 14, 2021.