Views from readers: medical marijuana + hurricane-delayed elections

Study the ballot

The final 2020 general election sample ballot is available. Obtain a copy and read it in preparation for Nov. 3.

Near the end of the ballot, there are three statewide ballot measures up for vote. While all three are important, please focus on “Statewide Ballot Measure 1.” It relates to making medical marijuana available in Mississippi.

The presentation of this measure can be confusing.

In this section there are two items that need attention: “Initiative Measure No.65” and “Alternative Measure No.65A”.

There is a critical difference between these two measures.

In No.65, a Mississippi licensed physician must certify that a patient qualifies to use this substance.

In No.65A, a nebulous system would be created with no stated method of certifying a patient as qualified.

This deletion of “a Mississippi licensed physician” can lead to a drawn-out process for a patient to become qualified as well as an unqualified person being appointed to manage 65A, should it pass.

So, please be aware that at the bottom of Measure 1 there are two locations to mark for voting.

Gerry Gilbert

Diamondhead

Thanks for memories

The Friends of Mary C have completed our move out of the building and spent the weekend of Sept. 12 cleaning the spaces we used daily. The city took over management on Sept. 1, and the building has been open to the public since that time.

We thank the city for letting us operate at The Mary C. We wish nothing but success for the city. We are thrilled that the city is investing more interest and resources into local arts and culture programming. The Friends have made considerable investments in the building, and we thank the City for doing the same.

Per our long-standing agreement with the city, all improvements placed in the building become property of city, and our assets are the exclusive property of The Friends. We are happy to have contributed to the building improvements and wish to share our assets with the community.

We made an offer to the city to use the recording studio equipment and our theater equipment in exchange for a proclamation outlining the contributions of The Friends. The equipment loan proposals were originally discussed with the city on Aug. 14, and offers were formally sent on Sept. 8 and Sept 11. The city is in possession of our audits dating back to 2011, has a seat on our board, and receives monthly financial reports, meeting minutes, agendas, and executive director reports all containing programming data. We have provided the city with inventories and access to review our files. The Friends have fulfilled all of our obligations and assisted the city as much as possible during this transition.

We do not want the story of this organization to be lost and wish to provide our community with a functioning theater at no cost to the taxpayers.

Elizabeth Feder-Hosey, Board Chair

Matt Lott

Melanie Allen

Lisa Authement

Sarah Reese

Kathryn Shanks

Andrea Pessoney

Maura Craig

Liz Platt

Connie Moran

Pat Joachim

Linda Mabry

Ocean Springs

Election rules

Diamondhead had to postpone its mayoral special election this month due to hurricane watches and an evacuation.

We were informed incorrectly at first that the entire election process, canceled less than a day before polls were to open, had to begin again. Residents next learned that Mississippi actually has no law on what to do if elections must be postponed and reset or polling places need relocating due to emergency conditions.

That makes no sense in a hurricane- and tornado-prone state.

Diamondhead coped with resetting the election via a suitable solution thanks to four council members, its city attorney Derek Cusick, and the help of Malcolm Jones, city attorney of Pass Christian and Waveland. But it would be absurd to need all hands on deck threading their way through an election/emergency law minefield with no clear guidance in the aftermath of a real disaster.

We need a plan.

Minnesota’s statute makes a good model. It requires counties to develop a plan for all elections held within their jurisdictions, based on a guide from the Secretary of State’s office and in consultation with cities, school districts, and local emergency management organizations in the county. Alternately, cities and school districts may create their own plans based on their county level plan.

That would ensure local control of local elections rather than control by state officials in each emergency-impacted election. Our legislators and relevant officials at all levels should begin work now to get adequate law and plans in place during the upcoming session.

Peggy Dutton

Diamondhead