Mississippi Medical Marijuana

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Could Be Available Fall 2021

By /

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Table of contents

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Fall 2021 Update

Mississippi voters recently approved Initiative 65 – a constitutional amendment that legalizes medical marijuana statewide. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will oversee the medical marijuana program to establish and manage production, regulation, and licensing structures. Initiative 65 requires that regulations for all aspects of the program, including production and licensing for sale, must be in place by July 1, 2021, and officials will have until August 15 to begin issuing business licenses and medical marijuana patient identification cards. The MSDH is now in the planning stages of the many elements needed to implement a successful medical marijuana program for the state. Keep a close eye on the MSDH website for program details and updates as they become available.

Unlike many other medical marijuana programs, Mississippi will not limit the number of treatment centers (dispensaries) that will be allowed. Local municipalities may enact and enforce zoning ordinances and regulations on medical cannabis businesses. However, these ordinances can be “no more restrictive than those for a licensed retail pharmacy” or for “other comparably sized and staffed lawful commercial or industrial businesses.” With a clear timetable in place and no limit on licensees, Mississippi has poised itself to be one of the country’s most liberal medical marijuana programs.

Currently, the state has not established a licensing system and is not accepting applications at this time. However, it is never too early to begin developing your business plan scouting potential locations, and conducting feasibility studies to ensure long-term success. The cannabis industry moves very fast, and with aggressive deadlines already established, we expect a rapid startup and a highly competitive market. Initiative 65 permits physicians to recommend medical marijuana to patients with the following medical conditions:

· Cancer
· Epilepsy or other seizures
· Parkinson’s disease
· Huntington’s disease
· Muscular dystrophy
· Multiple sclerosis
· Cachexia
· Post-traumatic stress disorder
· Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
· Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
· Chronic or debilitating pain
· Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
· Glaucoma
· Agitation of dementias
· Crohn’s disease
· Ulcerative colitis
· Sickle-cell anemia
· Autism with aggressive or self-injurious behaviors
· Pain refractory to appropriate opioid management
· Spinal cord disease or severe injury
· Intractable nausea
· Severe muscle spasticity

To obtain a medical marijuana identification card, Mississippi residents suffering from one of the approved medical conditions must meet with their physician and get a “physician certification”. This certification will be a form that has been approved by the Department of Health and must be signed and dated by the patient’s physician. This form certifies that the patient suffers from a debilitating medical condition for which medical marijuana may mitigate the symptoms and/or effects. Physician certifications shall remain active for twelve months unless the physician specifies a shorter duration. Physician certifications are only issued after an in-person examination of the patient in Mississippi. Minors who qualify as patients shall only be given a certification if the minor’s parent or guardian is present and provides signed consent. Once the state has approved the patient’s physician certification, they would be allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana from a state-licensed medical marijuana treatment center. If lawsuits do not create any unexpected hurdles, qualifying patients in Mississippi could have safe access to medical marijuana as soon as Fall of 2021.

If you are interested in exploring new cannabis business opportunities in Mississippi, now is the time to start planning! With no license limits in place, being first to market will provide a substantial competitive advantage. Working with local authorities as they develop regulations is imperative. Developing a detailed business plan, financial proforma, and cannabis facility design will help guide your project from conceptual to operational.

Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about obtaining a medical cannabis license under Mississippi’s new Medical Marijuana Program.

Andy is an Operations Advisor at Catalyst BC.

Additional Resources

Consulting Services For Cannabis, Hemp, Psilocybin, and Natural Medicine

Testimonials and Public Relations

Latest Articles

  • Close‑up of vibrant cannabis buds in full bloom, illustrating the premium flower used in Utah Medical Cannabis Pharmacy License operations.
    Utah Medical Cannabis Pharmacy License Applications Open for 2025: Eligibility, Deadlines, and Requirements
    The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has officially launched the first application period for two independent medical cannabis pharmacy licenses, running from July 1 through July 31, 2025. Originating from House Bill 54, passed during Utah’s 2025 legislative session, these new pharmacy licenses aim to broaden medical cannabis access in medically underserved areas across the state.
  • Professional overwhelmed by cannabis startup costs, sitting at desk reviewing cannabis facility build-out expenses and working capital needs.
    Cannabis Startup Costs: From Licensing to Profitability
    Starting a legal cannabis business isn’t just about getting a license—it’s about building a profitable, compliant, and sustainable operation in one of the world’s most capital-intensive and regulated industries. Many entrepreneurs enter this space with many goals, good intentions, and passion, but ultimately fail because they underestimate the cost, complexity, experience, and time required to turn a cannabis license into a thriving business.
  • A business professional figuratively trapped by a mousetrap symbolizes common cannabis license pitfalls and the need for proactive cannabis compliance and cannabis facility design planning.
    Cannabis License Pitfalls: How to Avoid Common Cannabis Licensing Mistakes
    As new adult-use programs launch, many entrepreneurs are eager to start growing, processing, or selling cannabis. Excitement runs high, but the industry’s heavy regulations and complex operations can quickly overwhelm even experienced business owners. Common mistakes include underestimating compliance requirements, rushing facility design, skipping proper procedures, and more.
  • Minnesota cannabis microbusiness product display with vape pens and flower, highlighting cannabis compliance and consulting strategies.
    Maximizing Your Minnesota Cannabis Microbusiness or Mezzobusiness License
    Minnesota’s new adult-use cannabis law allows microbusinesses (one store, up to 5,000 sq ft indoor, ½ acre outdoor) and mezzobusinesses (up to 3 stores, 15,000 sq ft indoor, 1 acre outdoor) to cultivate, manufacture, sell, and transport cannabis under one license. These vertically integrated licenses offer flexibility, but also come with complex state rules.
  • A chef igniting a tall flame in a commercial kitchen represents the passion, precision, and performance needed to create top-tier dispensary operations and an exceptional cannabis customer experience.
    The Recipe for a Top-Tier Cannabis Dispensary
    Operating a highly reviewed, top-performing cannabis dispensary takes more than simply stocking product and unlocking the doors. It requires operational discipline, regulatory expertise, top-tier customer service, dynamic merchandising, and a culture of accountability and community. With the cannabis industry continuing to expand—and regulations constantly evolving—success is defined by how seamlessly a dispensary integrates compliance, product curation, staff training, and marketing into day-to-day operations.
  • Man celebrating with phone in hand after winning a cannabis license in the Minnesota Lottery.
    Minnesota Lottery Results: June 5 Cannabis License Drawings and What’s Next
    The Minnesota Lottery for cannabis business licenses reached a pivotal milestone on June 5, as the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) conducted randomized drawings for select license types. These lotteries were open to both social equity applicants and general applicants vying for limited licenses to operate as cultivators, manufacturers, and mezzobusinesses. Additionally, a separate lottery was held exclusively for social equity applicants seeking a retail cannabis license.

Explore Our Articles

Business Funding cannabis applications Cannabis Bar Cannabis Business Optmization Cannabis Business Services cannabis careers Cannabis Compliance Cannabis Consumption Cannabis Consumption Bar Cannabis Inventory Management Systems Cannabis Investors cannabis jobs Cannabis Legalization cannabis licensing Cannabis Lounge cannabis marketing Cannabis Operational Procedures cannabis outreach Cannabis Regulations Cannabis Security Cannabis Software Cannabis Startup Cannabis Supply Chain Cannabis Technology Colorado controlled environment agriculture Cultivation cultivation facility Dispensary Design facility design Financial Planning Legal Update Legislation Medical Cannabis Minnesota Natural Medicine Nebraska New York Odor Control Oregon Psilocybin Psychedelics Recreational Cannabis Solventless Extraction Tribal Cannabis Licensing

Scroll to Top