Mississippi House Passes Two Medical Cannabis Bills

Mississippi’s House of Representatives has passed two medical cannabis bills, one to extend patient certifications to 24 months while ending annual follow-ups, and another to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis during hospital stays. One of the proposals, House Bill 895, was filed by Representative Lee Yancey (R) and would significantly reduce ongoing requirements placed on patients in the state’s medical marijuana program. The measure eliminates mandatory annual follow-up visits and extends the validity of both physician certifications and patient identification cards from one year to 24 months.

Under current law, patients must renew their certification and card every 12 months. Supporters of the change argue that for individuals with chronic or permanent qualifying conditions, the yearly process creates unnecessary costs, paperwork, and logistical hurdles. HB 895 would maintain physician oversight at the initial certification stage while easing long-term administrative requirements for patients who have already been approved.

A separate bill, House Bill 1034, was filed by Representative Kevin Felsher (R) and focuses on access for terminally ill patients receiving inpatient care. The proposal would explicitly allow these patients to use medical marijuana while admitted to hospitals.

Mississippi’s existing law does not clearly address marijuana use in hospital settings, which has resulted in some patients being unable to access their medication during extended stays. HB 1034 is designed to close that gap by permitting use for terminally ill individuals, subject to hospital policies and applicable regulations.

If enacted, the two measures would mark a notable shift in how Mississippi administers parts of its medical marijuana program, reducing regulatory burdens for long-term patients while ensuring that those in end-of-life situations are not cut off from their medicine during hospital care.