On February 2nd, 2022, state officials signed the legislation for the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, thus legalizing medical marijuana in Mississippi. So what does this mean for state residents now that the legislation is in effect, and what role does it play in the potential legalization of recreational cannabis for the state? Well for one thing, Mississippi is already set to begin accepting cultivation and “other” medical marijuana license applications in June, in order to meet the statutory requirements of a newly enacted MMJ law. For now, here’s what you should know about medical cannabis in Mississippi.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Mississippi?

As of Feb 2nd, medical cannabis in Mississippi is now legal, thanks to the recently signed Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. The law permits the use of medical cannabis to treat certain medical conditions, which include:

• Cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• ALS, muscular dystrophy
• HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other transmitted diseases 
• Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sickle-cell anemia
• Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder
• Autism
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain, severe or intractable nausea
• Seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms

What This Means For Obtaining Medical Cannabis in Mississippi

Mississippi is now the third state in the deep south to legalize medical cannabis, and the 39th in the U.S. overall. According to a short news release, “the goal is to provide a safe and accessible program that meets the needs of patients and the public health and safety of all Mississippi residents…” The law also gives local jurisdictions and cities 90 days to opt out of allowing medical marijuana facilities in their areas.

The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act contains a number of favorable provisions for employers. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Employers are not required to allow or accommodate the medical use of medical cannabis, or to modify any job or any employee who engages in the medical use of cannabis, or seeks to engage in the medical use of cannabis.
• Employers are not prohibited from refusing to hire, discharge, discipline, or otherwise taking employment action against an individual with respect to hiring, discharging, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment as a result of that individual’s medical use of cannabis
• Employers are not prohibited from enforcing a drug testing policy.
• Employers may discipline employees who use medical cannabis in the workplace or who work while under the influence of it
• Employers and their workers’ compensation carriers are not required to pay for or to reimburse an individual for costs associated with the medical cannabis

Cultivation and License Applications

State residents and organizations will now be able to apply for cultivation and grow licenses come June, but as for what those exact requirements are, it’s yet to be determined. For now, staying updated with any breaking information is the best way to learn how to go about applying, depending on industry type, company size, and many other specifications.

Stay up-to-date on application information and requirement updates at 365cannabis.com. 

Marijuana Compliance Software For Mississippi

At 365 Cannabis, we stay on top of compliance with integrations into state regulatory systems, and are closely monitoring the recent legalizations of medical marijuana in Mississippi. As an ACMPR Compliance Software, we offer compliance solutions and checklist protocols throughout delivery to assist your organization every step of the way. In cases where integration to the regulatory tracking system is an option, 365 Cannabis will facilitate integration so that dual entry is minimized and efficiencies are realized.
Learn more about our products or services, or contact us today for any questions or comments.