Editors are correct in their assessment that Mississippi’s medical cannabis program is operating as intended and that abuses are minimal (“The reefer madness never came,” April 17).

This result is hardly a surprise. Forty states regulate medical cannabis and many of these state-authorized systems have now been in place for multiple decades without incident. No state has ever repealed medical cannabis access. That’s because these programs are working as intended, provide benefits to patients, and improve public health and safety.

Unfortunately, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is still wedded to the ‘reefer rhetoric’ of the past. His recent decision to veto a pair of sensible bills (House Bill 1152 and House Bill 895) — which sought to expand patients’ eligibility and access to medical cannabis, as well as provide greater discretion for physicians to recommend it — is proof positive of this fact.

The editors conclude, “Marijuana is medicine and it should be treated that way.” Going forward, Governor Reeves would be wise to heed their advice.

Paul Armentano

Deputy Director

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Washington, DC