Cannabis dispensaries are set to open in select locations across Mississippi next week, with Mockingbird Cannabis delivering products cultivated at its indoor facility just outside Clinton, Hinds County. This facility, previously the home of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, spans 163,000 square feet and includes four pods containing 16 cultivation rooms, allowing for expansion as the medical marijuana market evolves.
Co-founder Marcy Croft states that Mockingbird Cannabis is the largest cannabis cultivation facility in Mississippi, currently producing 34 cannabis varieties alongside an array of products, including creams, beverages, bath bombs, and gummies. Equipped with processing labs, a kitchen, packaging areas, and clean rooms, the facility supports over 50 employees.
Investment and Initial Deliveries
Mockingbird’s investors have invested more than $36 million to reach this milestone, anticipating returns as early as this Tuesday with the first deliveries to state-approved dispensaries. Croft noted that the initial dispensary to receive the products has yet to be determined.
The facility is designed to adapt to growing demand, although its journey has not been without challenges. In fall 2022, the company was instructed to destroy approximately 5,000 plants, valued at around $1 million, due to outdoor growth violations under Mississippi law. The state health department subsequently mandated operational halts and structural improvements, all of which Mockingbird has addressed.
Regulatory Framework and Operations
As of now, nearly two years after voter approval, medical marijuana patients will finally have access to these products. There are currently 162 licensed cannabis dispensaries statewide and approximately 1,200 residents ready to make purchases, with these figures consistently changing.
Mockingbird operators describe their facility as state-of-the-art, attracting numerous visitors from other cannabis operations across the U.S. The facility’s advanced technology, including time-activated and plant-specific lighting, allows staff to expedite the growing process, accelerating what typically takes nine months into just seven weeks.
Every cannabis plant is tracked using yellow tags, enabling the Mississippi Department of Health to monitor their growth stages accurately. This system also ensures that each plant is linked to the specific product it will yield.
Product Development and Future Growth
Plants begin in rockwool pods and are tagged once they reach eight inches in height. After that, they are carefully managed for processing to extract oils for various products. The facility’s kitchen was developed in collaboration with Nandy’s Candy, a well-known Jackson business, which helped create the edibles marketed under the brand Uncloudy Day.
All products are packaged and prepared for delivery on-site, with significant infrastructure contributions from Upchurch Plumbing of Greenwood, which installed the facility’s tanks and watering system. As demand continues to rise, Croft expressed optimism that the Mockingbird workforce could possibly double within two years, while ancillary businesses related to cannabis production are also emerging throughout the Jackson area.
