Medical Marijuana
One of the big debates for the past year has been over the Legislature’s role in creating a medical marijuana program after Initiative 65 was declared invalid by the Mississippi State Supreme Court. Over the off season, the Senate held a series of hearings and education meetings to help us craft the best possible legislation for the state. This week, the Senate passed a bill that sets the state up to have a medical marijuana program. While I appreciate the work of my Senate colleagues on this legislation, I voted against this bill due to continued concerns about the impact of medical marijuana on our state.
Redistricting
Every ten years, the Legislature is tasked with redrawing the lines for Mississippi’s Congressional Districts following the Census. This week, the Senate passed new redistricting lines based on the population changes in 2020 from 2010.
Teacher Pay Raise
Also this week, the Senate unveiled a plan to raise teacher pay by $4,700 over two years. On top of this historic pay raise for our educators, it will also improve the yearly pay scale, which is an important step in retaining current teachers. As a member of the Senate Education Committee, I have and will continue to support raising the salaries of Mississippi’s educators.
Let me know
As I work through this Session, hearing your thoughts on topics facing the Legislature helps me greatly in representing my district. I’d love to hear from you! Shoot me an email at chjohnson@senate.ms.gov.