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 of cannabis. However, some hemp beverages with low THC levels will remain available for sale in convenience and grocery stores for individuals aged 21 and older.
The bill also assigns the Mississippi State Department of Health the responsibility of regulating traditional consumable hemp products, commonly known as CBD. Senator Kavin Blackwell, R-Southaven, who has been a key advocate for hemp reform, indicated that the bill is likely to proceed to a conference before returning to both the House and Senate for final voting.
Legislative Progress and Opposition
Senator Blackwell expressed optimism about the bill’s passage, stating, “I think everybody’s good for getting these products out of (the stores).” However, he acknowledges that the Senate may pose challenges, especially as the bill faced substantial opposition during the vote and subsequent attempts to reconsider the motion.
Senators Daniel Sparks, R-Belmont, and Angela Hill, R-Picayune, voiced concerns specifically regarding the sale of intoxicating hemp beverages outside regulated dispensaries. “It is cannabis,” Sparks dramatically asserted during discussions.
Despite this opposition, Blackwell remains confident that the legislation will succeed this session. He emphasized the need for further education on hemp beverages, which he noted are federally legal. “It’s a complicated subject,” he said, underscoring the importance of informing legislators about the nuances involved.
Continuing Concerns Over Public Safety
This bill represents the last of several hemp-related pieces of legislation currently under consideration. Previous attempts to ban intoxicating hemp in 2024 faltered toward the end of that session. In recent years, stakeholders in Mississippi’s burgeoning medical cannabis industry, along with health advocates, have pushed to remove hemp-derived THC products from convenience stores, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight.
A press conference held in Jackson last year highlighted public safety concerns surrounding these unregulated products. Presentations revealed that some convenience stores were selling hemp products with THC levels exceeding those found in licensed dispensaries. “This is a very serious public safety concern that needs to be addressed,” stated William Chism, a cannabis cultivator and spokesperson for the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association. He emphasized that unlike medical cannabis, which is tightly regulated, many hemp-derived products are poorly labeled or misleading, leaving consumers unaware of what they are purchasing.
