Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP) (2024) Guide

What is the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program?

The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP) is a medical program under the state's Department of Health (MSDH) that helps qualifying marijuana patients meet their medical cannabis needs. Passed into law in 2022, Senate Bill 2095 created the Mississippi MMCP and charged the MSDH to administer it. The first legal sale of medical cannabis in the state was not made until January 2023. Under this program, patients with certain severe ailments can legally use and possess medical marijuana and are permitted to designate caregivers. Anyone participating in the Mississippi MMCP must obtain a cannabis registry identification card from the state's Department of Health.

How Old to Join the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program?

Generally, adults aged 18 years or older with state-approved qualifying medical conditions are eligible to join the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. Similarly, minors under 18 can enroll in the MMCP but must have their parents or legal guardians as caregivers. Also, qualifying patients who are minors may only be certified for medical cannabis by state-licensed physicians to join the Mississippi MMCP.

Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program Qualifying Conditions in 2024

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Cancer
• Spastic quadriplegia
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntington's disease
• Muscular dystrophy
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis
• Pain refractory to appropriate opioid management
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Chronic terminal or debilitating disease or ailment or its treatment that causes at least one of the following:
• Seizures
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Intense and persistent muscle spasms
• Severe or intractable nausea
• Chronic pain
• HIV/AIDS
• Sickle-cell anemia
• Diabetic/peripheral neuropathy
• Agitation of dementia
• Autism
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Spinal cord disease or severe injury

What Practitioners are Eligible to Recommend the Use of Medical Cannabis?

• Physicians
• Medical Doctors (MDs)
• Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs)
• Physician Assistants
• Nurse Practitioners
• Optometrists

Must a Practitioner Obtain a License Before Issuing a Medical Card Recommendation?

Yes, medical practitioners in Mississippi must obtain the relevant licenses in order to issue medical card recommendations to qualifying patients:

• Physicians and physician assistants must be licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
• Optometrists must be licensed to prescribe medicine by the state's Board of Optometry
• Nurse practitioners must be licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Nursing

Do Physicians Need to Manage Patients Before Recommending Them for the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program?

Yes. No qualifying medical marijuana patient can be recommended for the Mississippi MMCP unless they are diagnosed by a medical practitioner with whom they have a veritable practitioner-patient relationship.

Do Physicians Have to Join the State’s Medical Marijuana Program/Registry to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Patients?

Yes. Licensed practitioners must be registered by the state's Department of Health before certifying patients seeking to join the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.

Can a Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program Practitioner Use Telemedicine for Patient Assessment?

Yes, but this can only happen after an initial in-person visit. Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program doctors and other practitioners may only examine patients and certify them for medical marijuana therapy via telemedicine after meeting them (patients) in person.

How to Find Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program Doctors

Qualifying medical marijuana patients in Mississippi must find practitioners who can certify them for medical marijuana treatments on their own. Medical providers registered with the Mississippi MMCP can decide to make their registrations private or public. While the state does not have a shared database of these practitioners, qualifying patients can find those who have chosen to make their registrations public on a few third-party websites.

How to Apply for the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program

• Visit a medical practitioner participating in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program after setting an appointment
• The practitioner will determine the patient's eligibility for medical cannabis and, if positive, will certify them and register their certification for medical marijuana use with the MMCP
• Once the practitioner has issued a medical certification, the patient must apply to the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program online using the Medical Cannabis Program Portal
• Provide all required information and upload necessary documents before submitting the application
• After submission, the MSDH will review the application and make the patient's cannabis registry identification card available within 5 days once approved
• If required, check the MSDH's guide for instructions on how to use the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program Portal login can help patients
• For further inquiries on how to join the Mississippi MCCP, contact the program at:
  570 East Woodrow Wilson Dr Jackson, MS 39216 Phone: (601) 206-1540