Medical Marijuana bill revised, lowers amount and provides local opt out in Mississippi

The latest iteration of a Medical Marijuana bill has been filed in the Mississippi State Senate. The bill number is SB 2095 and it is titled, “The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.”

State Senator Kevin Blackwell (R), the lead negotiator in the chamber, filed the bill as expected. It has been assigned to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee chaired by State Senator Hob Bryan (D).

The 445-page bill did make some changes from the prior versions offered up for review, chief among them being the amount allowed to a patient. This new bill reduces the amount of the cannabis equivalency unit from 4 grams to 3 1/2 grams, allowing no more than 28 units in a 30-day period and seven in one week.

Whether that will satisfy Governor Tate Reeves’ opposition on that sticking point is yet to be seen.

The Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) would have ultimate authority for oversight of the administration of the program, including testing, research, ID cards to patients, registering practitioners, and the licensing of cultivation facilities, processing facilities, transportation entities, and disposal entities.

MSDH is to delegate the responsibilities for the inspection, regulation and enforcement of cannabis cultivation facilities, processing facilities, transportation entities, and disposal entities to the Department of Agriculture (MDAC). The Ag Department will be allowed to contract with other governmental agencies and public or private third parties to assist with carrying out any of its responsibilities. [Read more at Y’all Politics]