Mississippi Legislature Approves Bill Revising Medical Cannabis Possession Limits and Allowing Telehealth for Homebound Patients

Key Points
  • Senate Bill 2748 in Mississippi revises the definition of a Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Unit (MMCEU) for concentrates and infused products.
  • The legislation allows for telemedicine evaluations for medical marijuana recommendations for homebound or bedbound patients.
  • SB 2748 changes the licensing process for medical marijuana businesses, requiring state licenses before seeking local approvals.
  • The bill aims to clarify regulations, improve patient access, and establish a more structured licensing process for the state's medical marijuana industry.

Under current law, a Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Unit (MMCEU) is defined as 3.5 grams of medical marijuana flower, one gram of concentrate, or 100 milligrams of THC in an infused product (patients are allowed to obtain up to 24 MMCEUs within a 30-day period). Senate Bill 2748 revises this definition for the latter two, specifying that one MMCEU now consists of one gram of total THC in a concentrate, or one gram of total THC in an infused product.

The legislation also allows telemedicine evaluations for medical marijuana recommendations, provided the patient is homebound or bedbound and has this status certified by a separate practitioner. Additionally, SB 2748 alters the licensing process for medical marijuana businesses, prohibiting applicants from seeking local zoning or permitting approvals until they have first secured a state license from either the Mississippi Department of Health or the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Senate Bill 2748 was introduced by Senator Kevin Blackwell in January. In February, the Senate approved the measure 40 to 11. Today, the bill was given approval by the House, allowing it to soon be sent to Governor Tate Reeves.

The bill’s passage represents an effort to clarify regulations, improve patient access, and establish a more structured licensing process for the state’s medical marijuana industry.