Medical Cannabis changes to take effect July 1

Jackson, Miss – Two bills that go into effect in July will bring much-needed changes to the Mississippi medical cannabis laws.

Starting July 1, Mississippi residents with a medical marijuana card can purchase a month’s supply at once. Bill SB 2857, signed by Governor Tate Reeves on May 8, aims to help those who need to travel to buy their medical marijuana.

However, 80 cities and 17 counties have decided not to allow dispensaries within their boundaries. This means people with an active medical card in those areas must drive to neighboring cities or counties to obtain medical cannabis.

Currently, patients can only purchase a week’s worth of Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units, or about 21 grams. One MCEU equates to 3.5 grams of marijuana flower, 100 mg of a THC-infused product, or one gram of concentrate. With the new changes, patients can purchase a month’s supply, or 84 grams, at one time.

The second bill, Senate Bill 2888, tightens oversight in response to issues with adherence testing, which led to recent litigation against two Mississippi medical cannabis companies. The bill also expands research capacity, which will improve the quality of medical cannabis in the state and allow for newer health products.

The medical marijuana program has been largely successful, with 1,800 applicants registered in the first week of eligibility in 2022. That number has since climbed to over 35,000 since the program officially started in 2023.