How is Mississippi’s new industry unfolding as licenses are approved

After years of legislative and legal delays, Mississippi’s medical marijuana industry is slowly taking shape.

Since June 1, a small number of medical providers, patients and businesses have been approved as the Mississippi State Department of Health continues to process applications.

For entrepreneurs such as Jared Kobs, the co-founder of Kudzu Cannabis, which received its cultivation license in early July, this allows the company to work toward having products available by the end of the year.

It is also the culmination of years of work. His team started working on their cultivation, processing, and distribution site in Canton in 2021.

The company also applied for processing and transportation licenses 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 stuff done,” Kobs said.

Mockingbird Cannabis is also among the companies that have been approved for cultivation and processing licenses. The company’s facility is located in Hinds County. Clint Patterson, the CEO of Mockingbird, said they plan for their first harvest to take place in October and will have a limited number of products available this fall.

[Read more at Clarion Ledger]