Austin Calhoun is just under two months away from his 25th birthday, a milestone he considers a blessing after battling a sudden illness that transformed his life. “I felt like I had the flu every day,” Calhoun recalled. Unbeknownst to him, he had contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite—a condition that is rarely discussed in Mississippi. In 2015, he spent much of his senior year of high school either hospitalized or bedridden at home.
Initially unaware of his Lyme Disease diagnosis, Calhoun faced relentless seizures, severe joint pain, and chronic nausea. During this time, he consulted 20 local doctors and tried 17 different medications, often remaining bedridden. After conducting extensive research and consulting with medical professionals in Colorado, he moved out of state to access medical marijuana. Following his first dose, he experienced significant improvements in his condition. “I noticed that I wasn’t having those small blackout periods throughout the day due to the seizures. My joints weren’t hurting as much anymore. I was actually able to keep my food down for the first time in almost a year,” he said.
Calhoun prefers to use vaping or tinctures with a mix of THC and CBD extracts. Since relocating to Colorado in 2015, he has been away from his family and friends. However, with Mississippi voters recently approving medical marijuana by a significant 74% majority, Calhoun is eager to return home. “I was left, honestly, just shocked. I did not expect my home state to be in such support of medical marijuana,” he shared. “The first thing I thought was I’m going to be able to come home and be with my family.”
Medical Marijuana in Mississippi
Mississippi voters passed Initiative 65, establishing a comprehensive medical marijuana program to treat 22 debilitating conditions, including seizures like those experienced by Calhoun. The program mandates the state Department of Health to implement regulations, including the licensing process for growers and sellers, as well as the pricing for patient ID cards.
Felix Murry, III, CEO of Gas House Cannabis in California, sees potential in Mississippi’s emerging cannabis industry. Originally from Rolling Fork, a small town in the Mississippi Delta, Murry began his cannabis career in Oregon in 2014, focusing on producing medical-grade products. “I just wanted to help people—sick children and adults,” Murry explained. Now suffering from chronic back pain himself, he believes that establishing cannabis cultivation in Mississippi could enhance economic growth and improve quality of life for residents. “I would love to come home and help people out and bring some of the knowledge that I’ve acquired,” he stated.
As the state prepares to implement its medical marijuana program, which could be operational by next summer, Murry is optimistic about extending his business to his home state, aiming to make a positive impact in the community he holds dear. Mississippi has now become the 35th state to legalize medical marijuana, marking a significant development in the state’s regulatory landscape and opportunities within the cannabis market.
For more detailed information on Mississippi’s medical marijuana legislation, visit Mississippi’s official state website.
