After years of legislative and legal delays, Mississippi’s medical marijuana industry is starting to take shape. Since June 1, a limited number of medical providers, patients, and businesses have received approval from the Mississippi State Department of Health as it continues processing applications. For entrepreneurs like Jared Kobs, co-founder of Kudzu Cannabis, securing a cultivation license in early July marks an important step toward making products available by the end of the year.
This progress is the result of extensive groundwork; Kobs’s team began developing their cultivation, processing, and distribution site in Canton back in 2021. The company has also applied for processing, transportation, and three dispensary licenses in July. “We were told they would need extra time on those licenses, and we should hear back on the dispensary licenses within 30 days. They are getting things done,” Kobs stated.
Emerging Players in the Cannabis Industry
Mockingbird Cannabis is another company that has been approved for cultivation and processing licenses, with its facility located in Hinds County. CEO Clint Patterson announced plans for their first harvest in October, with a limited range of products expected this fall. Mockingbird has also applied for a research license, currently on hold, with aspirations to lead in developmental studies regarding the health benefits of cannabis.
“Due to its long-standing illegality, research has been limited. The state could pioneer in this area through collaboration among universities, the department of health, and companies, lending legitimacy to the data and enhancing our understanding of health benefits,” Patterson emphasized.
Licensing and Application Insights
The Mississippi State Department of Health oversees licensing for most businesses related to medical marijuana. As of July 28, the department had issued 16 business licenses, which include specific licenses for cultivators and processors. They have processed 36 applications for medical providers and 25 for patients.
According to Ken Newburger from the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, applications for dispensary licenses have been particularly competitive. Zoning regulations require dispensaries to be at least 1,500 feet apart from one another and a minimum of 1,000 feet from churches and schools. In just one hour after opening the application portal, the department of revenue received over 100 applications for dispensaries, though the pace has since eased.
Newburger expects the number of approved businesses to increase in the coming months, noting that the department of health is actively working with applicants. He anticipates that as products become available early next year, the number of patients approved for medical marijuana cards will also rise. “Patients don’t feel the urgency because there is no product,” he said. “I believe medical marijuana cards won’t be active until the product is on the shelf.”
Patient Engagement and Outreach
Angie Calhoun, founder of the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance, advises members to wait until October to apply for their medical marijuana cards, as they will need to get recertified by a physician within 12 months. “As soon as dispensaries are operational, patients will be notified that their cards are active,” she noted, stressing that there is no immediate rush.
Tia Beasley has joined Pause Pain & Wellness, a clinic focusing on medical marijuana for chronic pain treatment. After previously working in various medical fields, she recognizes the potential benefits medical marijuana offers patients, especially those facing limited treatment options. “This presents a new avenue of care, and my goal is to help make an impact on the opioid crisis,” Beasley said.
The clinic, founded by chronic pain management specialist Dr. Kirk Kinard, aims to open locations in Oxford, Jackson, and Meridian, with plans to have the first clinics operational by August. “We have many patients interested, and we want to manage the anticipated demand efficiently,” Kinard remarked.
