Mississippi Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

Photo by Pieter van de Sande

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Mississippi?

Yes, medical marijuana was legalized in 2022 for patients with qualifying medical conditions. In order to get your medical marijuana card in Mississippi a state-licensed doctor must diagnose you with one of the illnesses Mississippi approved for cannabis prescriptions. This page will highlight these various disorders and health issues and how to simply obtain your recommendation.

Recreational cannabis is not legal in Mississippi and while it is decriminalized that is only for first time offenders. Decriminalization is not legalization. If you’re caught with 30 grams or less of cannabis you can face fines of $100-250 dollars. However, a second offense would carry a similar fine but have jail time and be a misdemeanor.

Let’s quickly dive deeper into medical marijuana laws in Mississippi.

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Laws in 2024

In April 2014, Governor Phil Bryant signed HB1231, “Harper Grace’s Act”, into law. It legalized cannabis plant extracts, oils or resins that had more than 15% of cannabidiol (CBD) and no more than 0.5% THC.

This law was fairly strict. The CBD treatment was only available to seizure payments and had to be administered under direct supervision by a physician. The CBD oil had to be obtained from or tested by the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi and dispensed by the Department of Pharmacy Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

On January 8, 2020, a citizen sponsored measure 65 was added to the ballot. In March of that year the state added a competing measure 65A. Despite being written by citizens it was robust and included qualifying conditions, tax rates, etc while 65A left those decisions to be made by the state.

Mississippi’s Supreme Court overturned 65 the decision citing the problem of citizen-initiated ballot measures in May of 2021.

2022’s Senate Bill 2095, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, officially legalized medical marijuana in the state with and was signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves, on February 2, 2022 with the first medical marijuana sale being on January 25, 2023. This is fairly quick compared to some states.

As far as 2024 medical marijuana laws in Mississippi, HB1572 was introduced to essentially eliminate open carry for marijuana limiting having open cannabis use in public, near dispensaries, and while driving. It ended up dying in committee but is valuable for Mississippi residents to understand that while medical marijuana is legal the state does still have somewhat conservative laws so following medical marijuana law is vital.

Along those lines, what are the requirements and limitations to getting your medical marijuana card in Mississippi?

Mississippi Medical Card Requirements & Limitations:

There are clear requirements for medical marijuana eligibility in Mississippi. Mississippi Medical Marijuana’s qualifications are:

1. You must be a Mississippi resident.
2. You must be 18 years or older. Minors require a registered caregiver and must medically qualify.
3. You must have a qualifying medical condition. Those will be listed below.
4. You must be medically certified by a state-licensed physician who is registered with the state’s medical cannabis program.
5. You must register with the Medical Cannabis Program.

In addition to these requirements, there are also limitations for medical marijuana patients.

• Patient purchase limits are decided as Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units. One unit is roughly 3.5 grams of flower, up to 100 mg of THC in infused products, and up to one gram of concentrate.
• Patients cannot purchase more than 6 of these units a week or 24 in a month.
• Patients may not legally possess more than 28 of these units at once
• Cannabis flower is capped at 30 percent THC while concentrated products will be capped at 60 percent THC.
• Patients cannot grow cannabis products at this time.

Photo by Jeff W

What are the Qualifying Conditions for a Medical Card in Mississippi?

Again, to obtain Mississippi medical marijuana, qualifying conditions must be diagnosed by a physician. The medical conditions approved for cannabis include:

• AIDS/HIV
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Agitation Of Dementia
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Autism
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Glaucoma
• Huntington’s Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Spastic Quadriplegia
• Hepatitis
• Sickle-Cell Anemia
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Pain Refractory To Appropriate Opioid Management
• Diabetic/Peripheral Neuropathy
• Spinal Cord Disease Or Severe Injury
• Ulcerative Colitis

Additionally, any chronic, terminal or debilitating disease or medical condition or subsequent treatment that produces one or more of the following qualify:

• Cachexia Or Wasting Syndrome
• Chronic Pain
• Severe Or Intractable Nausea
• Seizures
• Severe And Persistent Muscle Spasms Including, But Not Limited To, Those Characteristic Of Multiple Sclerosis

Patients can for their condition to be considered for medical marijuana.

Any Mississippi resident can file a petition with the Mississippi Department of Health to add serious medical conditions or treatments to the existing conditions listed in Miss. Code Ann. 41-137-3.

The Department of Health will consider the petition and approve or deny it within 60 days of submission.

How to Acquire a Medical Marijuana Card in Mississippi in 3 Easy Steps

Now that you understand the qualifying conditions, how do you find a doctor? Green Health Docs makes the process very simple. Here’s the 3 steps to getting your medical card in Mississippi.

1. Book an Appointment

Schedule to see a doctor by filling out the form at the top of this page or call or text 240-356-1000 to set up your consultation over the phone. We have 5 clinics to choose from with same-day appointments available!

2. Talk to a Doctor

Your doctor will determine if you qualify for a Mississippi medical marijuanas card after a quick 10-15 minute evaluation. You’ll find out if you’re approved during your consultation.

3. Get Your Card

If approved, you’ll then be able to complete your registration on the state;’s online portal. You’ll need to register with a username and password, verify your email, and submit your application. This includes submitting a photo.

When you complete an application and provide supporting documents, there is a 10-day approval time for applications. Patient identification cards are made available within five days.

Mississippi Initiative 65 FAQs

Medical marijuana laws can be confusing and ever-changing. Here are some quick frequently asked questions to understand your rights regarding medical marijuana in Mississippi.

When Did Mississippi Legalize Marijuana?

SB2095 was signed into law on February 2, 2022 officially legalizing medical cannabis in Mississippi. It became the 37th US state to legalize medical marijuana. It would be a little under a year before patients could officially purchase their medical marijuana.

What Are The 22 Debilitating Medical Conditions In Mississippi?

The qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Mississippi are:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Autism
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain (Refractory)
• Crohn’s Disease
• Diabetic/Peripheral Neuropathy
• Dementia-Related Agitation
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis
• HIV/AIDS
• Huntington’s Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Nausea
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Seizures
• Severe And Persistent Muscle Spasms
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Pastic Quadriplegia
• Spinal Cord Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis

Any terminal illness or medical treatment for a chronic condition that produces one or more of the following symptoms are also eligible:

• Cachexia Or Wasting Syndrome
• Chronic Pain
• Severe Or Intractable Nausea
• Seizures
• Severe And Persistent Muscle Spasms including, but not limited to, those Characteristic Of Multiple Sclerosis

Where Can I Find A Doctor In Mississippi That Specializes In Medical Marijuana?

Doctors must both be state-licensed and registered with the Medical Cannabis Program. Green Health Docs has 5 clinics of medical marijuana doctors in Mississippi who are not only properly certified but experts in how cannabis can help with your condition.

When Will Medical Marijuanas Be Available In Mississippi Dispensaries?

Mississippi Medical Marijuana dispensaries did not officially open sales until January 25, 2023. Time will tell if recreational cannabis will ever be available.

Final Thoughts

Navigating medical marijuana law can be confusing. It can be challenging to locate a doctor and understand if medical marijuana is right for you. However, it is legally accessible to qualified Mississippi residents.

If you’re wondering how to acquire your medical marijuana card consider letting Green Health Docs make the process simple and seamless.

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.