Mississippi’s Medical Marijuana Program: What You Need to Know
In 2022, Mississippi became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana, following the passage of a bill by the Mississippi Legislature and the signature of Governor Tate Reeves. However, the state’s journey to legalizing cannabis has been a long and winding one.
Prior to the legislative bill, Mississippi voters had approved a ballot initiative in 2020 to legalize medical marijuana, but the measure was later struck down by the Mississippi Supreme Court due to a technicality. The court ruled that the state’s ballot initiative process was outdated and required signatures to be gathered from the state’s original five congressional districts, which no longer existed.
Fast forward to today, and Mississippi’s medical marijuana program is up and running. To purchase medical cannabis, patients must first obtain a medical prescription card from a state-registered physician and then register with the Mississippi State Department of Health. There are over 20 qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and glaucoma.
As of early October, there are 45,689 active, registered patients in Mississippi, with 197 dispensaries, 122 large and micro-cultivators, 24 transportation businesses, five medical marijuana testing labs, and 31 processors across the state.
Patients can purchase up to 24 Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEUs) per month, with each MMCEU equivalent to 3.5 grams of flower, one gram of THC concentrates, or 100 milligrams of THC in an infused product.
While recreational marijuana is not currently legal in Mississippi, advocates are pushing for legislation to make it easier for companies that operate in recreationally legal states to do business in Mississippi. With 24 states in the US now having legalized recreational marijuana, it’s likely that Mississippi will eventually follow suit.
For now, patients and businesses can focus on navigating the state’s medical marijuana program, which is overseen by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Department of Revenue. With its unique challenges and opportunities, Mississippi’s medical marijuana program is an important development for the state’s healthcare and economy.
