Medical Cannabis Advocates Push for Improved Access for Patients in Need
Medical cannabis patient Becky Henderson, who faced a spinal cord injury from a car accident at 21, navigating life in a motorized wheelchair, attended the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee meeting on December 20, 2023. Despite her challenges, she actively advocated for enhancements to the state’s medical marijuana program, focusing on accessibility for individuals with […]
Mississippi Medical Cannabis Companies Awarded $6.3 Million in Lawsuit Against Rapid Analytics
Two Mississippi medical cannabis companies are set to receive over $6.3 million due to financial losses stemming from a significant product recall. The Mississippi Independent Cannabis Association (MICA) reports that Hattiesburg-based dispensary FerrCann, Inc. and Brookhaven cultivator SADUJA, LLC will benefit from these funds following an administrative hold on products tested at Rapid Analytics. Investigation […]
State Officials Exploit Cannabis Revenue in 2025 Budget Strategies
The financial advantages of cannabis tax revenues have frequently been utilized to encourage state lawmakers and voters to back legalization initiatives across various states. Excise taxes on cannabis can contribute to funding for schools, childcare programs, law enforcement, environmental initiatives, youth substance abuse prevention, social equity and justice, job creation, public health, and much more. […]
Mississippi Senate Approves Bill to Ban THC in Hemp Products
An effort to eliminate unregulated and untested intoxicating hemp products prevalent in Mississippi’s convenience stores has narrowly progressed through the Senate. On March 12, 2025, the Senate approved House Bill 1502, a legislative measure that bans the sale and ownership of intoxicating hemp, a type of hemp containing derived forms of THC, the psychoactive component […]
Mississippi Governor Vetoes Key Medical Cannabis Reform Bills, Impacting Patient Access
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) recently vetoed two bills aimed at updating the state’s medical cannabis law. These bills included provisions for ‘right-to-try’ for patients and aimed to relax the regulations around medical visits. Additionally, they would have lifted the THC caps on select medical cannabis products. Concerns Over Patient Safeguards In his veto regarding […]
New Testing Regulations Challenge Profitability in Cannabis Industry
Dozens of medical cannabis cultivators and business owners raised concerns at the State Capitol on Thursday regarding the potential negative impact of new yeast and mold testing requirements for cannabis flowers. During an advisory meeting with state health officials and legislators, small cultivators expressed that they are being burdened by both the new testing regulations […]
Court Upholds MS Cannabis Advertising Ban, Impacting Industry Growth
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Mississippi’s ban on advertising for medical cannabis businesses. The court ruled that, since cannabis remains federally illegal, the arguments by plaintiffs claiming violations of their First Amendment rights regarding advertising cannot be applied in the context of medical cannabis. “To qualify for First Amendment protection, commercial […]
Mississippi Legislature Approves THC Hemp Ban Bills in Significant Legislative Shift
Mississippi lawmakers are currently evaluating two bills that propose banning intoxicating hemp products. This initiative has sparked a debate, particularly among opponents who argue that hemp-derived products serve as a legal and accessible alternative to medical marijuana. Legislative Proposals The House bill aims to regulate hemp products, while the Senate bill seeks to classify them […]
Mississippi Attorney General Restricts Sales of Consumable Hemp Products for Consumer Safety
All participants in Mississippi’s cannabis industry should pay close attention to an opinion recently published by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office on June 11, 2025. This opinion addressed three key questions posed by Mississippi Rep. Lee Yancey regarding the legality of non-FDA approved hemp-derived products intended for human ingestion and/or consumption. Key Questions Addressed Is […]
Fifth Circuit Court Affirms Texas Ban on Broad Medical Cannabis Advertising
Clarence Cocroft, owner of a cannabis dispensary in Olive Branch, Mississippi, is pursuing legal action to gain the ability to advertise his medical cannabis business more widely. Despite the legalization of medical cannabis in the state, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a ban by the Mississippi State Department of Health that restricts […]
Olive Branch Dispensary Owner Appeals State Advertising Ban to Supreme Court
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (WMC) – The owner of an Olive Branch medical cannabis dispensary has petitioned the national Supreme Court to challenge Mississippi’s ban on advertising legal cannabis businesses. Clarence Cocroft, owner of Tru Source Medical Cannabis, is taking this legal step following the ban imposed in November. In late 2023, Cocroft filed a federal […]
Mississippi Declares Medical Marijuana Legal but Imposes Communication Restrictions
Small-business owner Clarence Cocroft has faced unique challenges as he navigates the advertising landscape for his cannabis business in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Despite budgeting for marketing and even investing in billboards, state regulations have imposed strict limitations on how he can promote Tru Source Medical Cannabis, Mississippi’s first black-owned medical marijuana dispensary. Regulatory Constraints in […]