Governor Reeves returns House Bill 895, says it would weaken medical marijuana safeguards

Governor Tate Reeves returned House Bill 895 to the Mississippi House of Representatives during the chamber’s floor session, saying the proposed changes would weaken protections in the state’s medical cannabis law. "House Bill 895 seeks to erode important safeguards contained in the Act," the governor’s veto message read.

In the written message read into the record, Reeves identified what he called the Act’s current checks and balances: a mandatory six‑month follow‑up visit to confirm therapeutic benefit, annual criminal background checks for caregivers and a cap on THC potency for oils and concentrates at 60 percent. "The requirement of a mandatory 6‑month follow‑up visit ... requiring caregivers to pass an annual criminal background check and capping the THC potency at 60% for oils and concentrates are reasonable and necessary checks and balances on the medical marijuana program," the message said.

Reeves said the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, enacted in 2022, "has been largely successful" in confining marijuana use in Mississippi to qualifying medical purposes and that there was "no reason to alter it at this time." The message concluded with the formal return of the bill: "Thus, I'm vetoing House Bill 895. Respectfully submitted, Tate Reeves, Governor."

No vote on overriding the veto was recorded during the session. The governor’s message was read into the House journal by chamber staff as part of routine executive communications.

The House proceeded with other business after the veto messages were read; a timeline of related floor activity and the precise text of the message were entered into the session record.