Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed into law a bill legalizing medical marijuana for certain patients, making the state the 37th in the nation to allow its use for medicinal purposes. This decision marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to cannabis, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Reeves stated, “There is no doubt that there are individuals in our state who could do significantly better if they had access to medically prescribed doses of cannabis.” Under the newly enacted law, individuals with “debilitating medical conditions” can utilize medical cannabis and obtain registry identification cards to purchase the substance. Designated caregivers will also be able to acquire these cards.
Regulations and Classifications
The law establishes a system where medical marijuana amounts are categorized into Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEU). One unit is equivalent to 3.5 grams of medical cannabis, 1 gram of cannabis concentrate, or 100 milligrams of THC in an infused product. Patients with medical marijuana cards are permitted to acquire no more than six MMCEUs weekly, with a maximum of 24 MMCEUs in a 30-day period.
This legislation follows the passage of the bill’s final version by both the State House and Senate a week earlier. Reeves noted that the approved bill included significant enhancements, such as limiting prescriptions to medical professionals operating within their scope of practice and restricting dispensaries’ proximity to churches and schools. “I have made it clear that the bill on my desk is not the one that I would have written,” Reeves commented, emphasizing the efforts of legislators in refining the proposal.
Historical Context
In November 2020, a majority of Mississippi voters backed a medical marijuana initiative allowing the purchase of up to five ounces monthly. However, the state’s Supreme Court later invalidated this vote, citing outdated procedures in the initiative process.
Further supporting the therapeutic potential of cannabis, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health points out that cannabinoid-containing drugs may aid in treating conditions such as epilepsy, cancer-related nausea, and weight loss associated with HIV and AIDS.
