Mississippi’s Marijuana Landscape: What You Need to Know
Mississippi has a complex marijuana landscape, with both medical and recreational use being legal in some form. To clarify the situation, here’s a breakdown of the current laws and regulations.
Medical Marijuana:
* In 2022, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill creating a medical marijuana program, which was signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves.
* The program allows patients to purchase medical cannabis from dispensaries, but they must first obtain a medical prescription card from a state-registered physician.
* There are over 20 qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and glaucoma.
* Patients can purchase up to 24 Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEUs) per month, which is equivalent to 3.5 grams of flower or 100 milligrams of THC in an infused product.
Recreational Marijuana:
* Recreational marijuana is not currently legal in Mississippi, but advocates are pushing for legislation to make it easier for companies that operate in recreationally legal states to do business in Mississippi.
* As of October, 24 states in the US have legalized recreational marijuana.
Out-of-State Patients:
* Out-of-state medical cannabis patients can purchase products in Mississippi, but they must first register with the Mississippi State Department of Health and provide proof of their valid medical cannabis card from their home state.
Businesses:
* As of early October, there are 45,689 active, registered patients in Mississippi.
* There are 197 dispensaries, 122 large and micro-cultivators, 24 transportation businesses, five medical marijuana testing labs, and 31 processors in the state.
* Out-of-state businesses cannot sell, test, or manufacture medical marijuana products in Mississippi, and they can only own a certain controlling percentage of medical marijuana businesses in the state.
Overall, while medical marijuana is legal in Mississippi, the state’s laws and regulations are still evolving, and recreational marijuana remains illegal. Patients and businesses must navigate these complexities to access and operate within the state’s marijuana industry.
