Many state leaders claimed that the initiative was too broad, and would allow marijuana to be approved with very few restrictions. According to the initiative’s campaign, voters rejected this argument on Tuesday. The Associated Press has tallied unofficial votes and found a large margin of support for the initiative. According to polling, Mississippians support legalizing medical marijuana use. However, Tuesday’s vote was complex and divided. The state’s ballot initiative process allowed a group of Mississippians to place the question — Initiative 65 — onto a state ballot. This was led by Joel Bomgar (R-Madison). The process required approximately 100,000 signatures from Mississippians. After years of stalling at the Capitol over the issue, lawmakers decided earlier this year that Initiative 65-A to the citizen-sponsored medical cannabis initiative would be on the ballot. The ballot required voters to vote first yes or no to either initiative’s passing, and then to choose one from the two. The winning proposal must also receive 40% of all votes cast during the election. Both thresholds were met Tuesday by Initiative 65. The issue of whether legalizing medical marijuana should be included in the state Constitution was a major topic of debate. Both Initiative 65 and the other would amend the Constitution. Opponents of Initiative 65 claimed that it would make it impossible for elected leaders to regulate or improve the program. Opponents of Initiative 65 also claimed that Mississippi would be flooded with pot and that the state lacks comprehensive regulations or the ability change or add these. Proponents claimed that the alternative legislative Initiative 65A would make it impossible for Mississippians to access a treatment that has helped millions of people in other states. The lawsuit filed by Madison’s Mayor Mary Hawkins challenges the constitutionality and validity of the state’s initiative process. This lawsuit could affect Tuesday’s elections. The lawsuit concerns the fact that the Constitution requires that signatures be collected equally from all five congressional districts. Although the state lost one congressional district in 2000, the Legislature has not amended the initiative law language to require signatures to be taken from all four districts. The Supreme Court decided not to rule on this case until after the election. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today.