The Budding Growth of Cannabis Law in Mississippi

How Mississippi attorneys can hash out the details of cannabis law to help their practice grow.

The legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use around the United States has created a burgeoning cannabis industry. Although the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law, medicinal and recreational cannabis has become increasingly widespread.

On February 2, 2022, Governor Tate Reeves signed into law the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, creating a medical cannabis program in Mississippi. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program provides a safe and accessible program for the residents of Mississippi to get access to cannabis products. Studies have shown that there are many benefits to CBD and THC. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which can help with conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the “high” associated with marijuana use. It can also have therapeutic effects, such as reducing pain and nausea. In a recent study by John Hopkins University, for those undergoing chemotherapy, medical cannabis has proven to be safe and effective at reducing the nausea patients experience.

The Mississippi Department of Health began accepting license applications in June of 2022 for patients, medical practitioners, cannabis cultivation sites, and cannabis testing facilities. Patients and healthcare programs can apply for a license, and there will be a 30-day approval period for licensure applications and a five-day approval time for patients.

With the growing use of cannabis products among Mississippians, cannabis law has grown exponentially. Healthcare attorneys work closely with the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi Board of Nursing, the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, and the Mississippi State Department of Health in writing medical cannabis policies for healthcare entities to implement and follow.

Unfortunately, Mississippi has very limited qualifying conditions for people to obtain licensure compared to other states that have adopted medical marijuana. This makes it difficult for patients to obtain cannabis access for their pain and difficult for medical practitioners to obtain licensure and help their patients.

Health Care attorneys who worked in cannabis law have boomed because the demand for them is so high. These attorneys look at medical marijuana regulations and credentials and see where patients must fall to obtain a medical card. These attorneys work closely with the Mississippi Department of Health to provide guidance and advice regarding the cannabis laws and help Mississippians obtain licenses.