Governor Reeves vetoes amended House Bill 1152, objects to expanded 'right to try' language

The governor returned House Bill 1152 to the Mississippi House of Representatives, objecting to amendments that expanded the bill’s scope beyond Mississippi residents. In a message read to the chamber, Governor Tate Reeves said the bill’s amended language "extended the right to try medical cannabis to every person on the planet," a change he said distorted the bill’s original intent.

Reeves acknowledged that "the original intent of House Bill 1152 when filed was commendable," but he said amendments adopted in the other chamber created an unreasonable risk of pushing the medical cannabis program toward recreational use. He cited concerns from the state health officer as part of his rationale.

The governor’s message also indicated a path forward: he said that if the legislature returned a version limited to Mississippi residents and accompanied by a reasonable repealer date for evaluation, he would sign it. "In the future, if the legislature returns this legislation to my desk as originally proposed and passed the house, limiting its application to Mississippi residents ... I will sign such legislation into law," the message said.

The veto message was recorded in the House journal; no override vote was taken during the session.