Mississippi launched its online medical cannabis licensing portal for patients, physicians and businesses June 1, and already, the platform has more than 1,800 users.
Roughly 85% of those who have registered for accounts on the new portal are patients looking to enroll in Mississippi’s medical cannabis program, according to Mississippi Today. Fifteen businesses and nine medical practitioners have also signed up, the news outlet reported, and a dozen people have submitted applications for work permits, which the state requires for those seeking work in the medical cannabis industry.
Mississippi’s medical cannabis program is expected to launch later this year, Mississippi Today reported, and creating an account in the state’s licensing portal is the first step for patients, physicians, businesses and workers to participate in the industry.
“I know everyone would love for it to be up in running,” Jim Craig, director of the Office of Health Protection, told Mississippi Today. “It looks like it will be the end of the year that we see products.”
The portal allows businesses to submit applications for medical cannabis cultivation, processing and testing licenses, but it does not handle the applications from those seeking dispensary licenses. The Mississippi Department of Revenue will oversee the retail segment of the market, Mississippi Today reported, and those applications will be accepted starting on July 1.
Kris Jones, the director of Mississippi’s medical cannabis program, told the news outlet that all applications submitted through the portal so far are under review, and that the number of applications is growing each day.
Applications from health care providers will be processed within 30 days, according to Mississippi Today, and once providers and dispensaries are approved to serve patients, they will be listed on the Health Department’s website.
Mississippi’s medical cannabis law, which Gov. Tate Reeves signed in February, allows the state’s municipalities to opt out of the program, and more than two dozen cities and counties opted out ahead of a May 3 deadline to do so.
