The official launch of Mississippi’s medical marijuana program, which was administered by Mississippi State’s Department of Health, has now seen the first medical marijuana sales in three dispensaries. The first of the three dispensaries now legally selling cannabis is located in Brookhaven.
This legalization delay is ironic since medical cannabis has been grown by the federal government for years now. However, now with the rollout of the program and a new positive direction seen for the medical program, Mississippi’s future in the cannabis industry is looking bright.
How Mississippi Arrived At This Point
Mississippi voters gave the thumbs-up for a medical marijuana initiative in 2020, which was overturned soon after by The state Supreme Court due to Mississippi’s initiative process being outdated.
Thereafter, Governor Tate Reeves signed the bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana in Mississippi. At that time, counties and cities were given the opportunity to opt-out.
A Welcoming Embrace
Locals are now giving a warm embrace to the three dispensaries, including The Cannabis Co. in Brookhaven, Hybrid Relief, and Starbuds in Oxford. The dispensaries, too, welcomed their first buyers of regulated MMJ products.
Fortunately for locals, and the local cannabis sector in general, concerns over limited flower inventory were calmed with Good Day Farm supplying this and bringing inventory to the market.
With plans to open six dispensaries in Mississippi, Good Day Farms will soon open a Good Day Farm-branded dispensary in Hattiesburg. Rollouts in Biloxi, Brookhaven, Corinth, Laurel, and Tupelo are expected to happen thereafter.
With new dispensaries popping up and sales now starting in Mississippi, almost 2000 patients and 400 MMJ registered patients can make the most of these new sales. Now, MMJ sales in Mississippi are expected to reach $265 million in the program’s first year and a whopping $800 million by the fourth year of the program.
All this shows the positive direction the medical program has taken and the future potential of the industry, which currently is looking positive. Not only is the industry looking at a bright future, but qualifying patients will now be able to experience all the health benefits that come with medical marijuana. According to a local newspaper, “There is promise both for [physicians] and for her patients. There’s room in Mississippi for both pharmaceutical drugs and medical marijuana.”
Criteria To Meet When Making Purchases
Patients seeking to purchase cannabis must first visit a physician, nurse practitioner or optometrist who is enrolled in Mississippi’s medical cannabis program. During the visit, the patient must determine if they have a medical condition that qualifies for medical marijuana.
Should the patient suffer from a qualifying medical condition, they’ll then have to register for certification for their individual medical cannabis use. The patient must then apply to the Medical Cannabis Program using an online form within 60 days. Following their application, they will receive an electronic identification card. This card must be used at the medical cannabis dispensary of their choice. Seeing their approval, the patient is allowed to purchase 3.5 grams per day, six days a week, which works out to three ounces per month.
A governmental online source reports, “Approval time: Upon completion of an application and supporting documents that meet regulatory requirements, there is a 30-day approval time for licensure applications. Upon approval of a patient application, patient identification cards are made available within five days. Please allow time for review and approval of patient applications and practitioner certification information. Applications are reviewed and determinations made in order of receipt of all required information.”
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