Advertisement Group seeks ballot initiative to legalize pot in Mississippi Mississippi for Cannabis files petition Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A group has filed a petition seeking a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Mississippi.Petition organizer Kelly Jacobs told The Clarion-Ledger that the group, Mississippi for Cannabis, is hoping to place an initiative on the November 2016 election ballot.Watch the reportJacobs said the ballot initiative proposal would legalize cannabis for adults to own as much as they wish, to use as they wish, just like alcohol or cigarettes. He said the group wants marijuana kept from minors.Under the proposal, Jacobs said city and county governments can collect a fee of $25 or more, for a residence, if a cannabis or hemp farm is established in their territory, which is defined as an adult growing 10 or more cannabis plants.The group needs 110,000 signatures from registered voters within the next 12 months before the marijuana question can be voted upon, according to Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann."It's a hard process," Hosemann said. "We have only had, like three before, and there is one out there on education gathering signatures also. The Constitution makes it difficult, so they will have to get a lot of signatures before it comes about."Hosemann said the earliest the issue could appear on the ballot would be 2016, and he doubts it would pass.Instapoll 16: Do you think marijuana should be legal in Mississippi? Call or text 601-980-4416 and enter "1" for yes or "2" for no. Or, cast your vote on Facebook or Twitter.