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Senate keeps reverse repealer on THC beverage rules after heated debate
Summary
The Mississippi Senate debated whether to strip a reverse repealer from a bill that would regulate intoxicating THC beverages sold without a medical card. An amendment to preserve the reverse repealer passed 30–21; the measure will move to conference and was later advanced by roll call.
The Mississippi Senate on a lengthy floor session adopted an amendment to keep a reverse repealer in legislation that would regulate intoxicating THC beverages, a change opponents said effectively creates a recreational THC market purchasable by anyone 21 or older without a medical cannabis card.
The measure matters because it would create a statutory framework for so‑called THC beverages — described in the debate as intoxicating products containing THC rather than alcohol — and set rules for retail sales, labeling and age limits. Supporters said the bill replaces an unregulated market with guardrails; opponents warned it legalizes recreational intoxicating THC for the first time in state law.
Senator Timothy Sparks, speaking during floor debate, called the provision a measure that would allow “intoxicating THC without any justification other than you’re over the age of 21,” and urged colleagues to leave the reverse repealer in place so the bill could go to conference for more work. He said, “If you strip this reverse repealer out, you’re taking away any opportunity to fix whatever needs to be fixed.”
Senator Blackwell, who urged adoption of the amendment to remove the reverse repealer, described the proposal as a regulation that would impose guardrails and said the beverages in question are already available in the state; his floor remarks focused on bringing the unregulated products under statutory oversight rather than outright banning them.
Floor action followed intense questioning from several senators about whether the bill would, in practice, permit recreational THC sales. After debate the body voted 30–21 to adopt the amendment that preserved the reverse repealer. Senators then acknowledged that keeping the reverse repealer in place means the bill will proceed to conference between the two chambers for further negotiation.
The bill was later advanced by use of the morning roll call and will go to a conference committee where lawmakers said they expect further changes.
What’s next: The reverse repealer’s retention sends the bill to conference, where members from both chambers and sponsors said they expect to refine the bill’s consumer protections, sales limits and enforcement provisions.
