Is cannabis legal in Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

Medical cannabis is legal, however adult recreational use remains illegal. The state has decriminalized some amounts of cannabis. Thus, possession of up to an ounce of cannabis will get you a fine of $100 to $250 for your first offense.

What is medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis uses the cannabis plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It’s basically the same product as recreational cannabis, but it’s taken for medical purposes.

The cannabis plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main chemicals used in medicine. THC also produces the “high” people feel when they smoke cannabis or eat foods containing it.

Can you get a medical cannabis card in Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

The Mississippi State Department of Health said that their medical card application process has begun and that patients will only have a five-day approval time for the MMJ program. Complete information is here.

What are the fees for a medical card?

The fees for a patient card will be $25. (Full fees for patients are outlined in Section 21 of SB2095.)

The fees for medical cannabis businesses are tiered according to the size of the business and can be found in Section 18 of SB2095.

What medical conditions is cannabis prescribed for in Mississippi?

Mississippi medical cannabis law states that you can get a medical card for the following qualifying conditions:

• Cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Muscular dystrophy
• Glaucoma
• Spastic quadriplegia
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis
• ALS
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Sickle-cell anemia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Agitation of dementia
• PTSD
• Autism
• Pain refractory to appropriate opioid management
• Diabetic/peripheral neuropathy
• Spinal cord injury or disease
• Chronic, terminal, or debilitating disease or medical conditions (or its treatment) that produces the following conditions:
  • Cachexia
  • Chronic pain
  • Severe or intractable nausea
  • Seizures
  • Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

How does medical cannabis help?

Cannabinoids — the active chemicals in medical cannabis — are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain.

Limited research suggests cannabinoids might:

• Reduce anxiety
• Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
• Control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
• Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
• Relax tight muscles in people with MS
• Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS

How do you use medical cannabis?

To take medical cannabis, you can:

• Smoke it
• Inhale it through a device called a vaporizer that turns it into a mist
• Eat it — for example, in a brownie or lollipop
• Apply it to your skin in a lotion, spray, oil, or cream
• Place a few drops of a liquid under your tongue

How to find a medical cannabis caregiver in Mississippi

Finding a medical cannabis caregiver in Mississippi is easy. Typically, those who are underage will have their parent or guardian act as a caregiver. If you’re elderly and have a caregiver at home, this person can also act as your MMJ caregiver. They just have to have the following qualifications:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be a current Mississippi resident
• Don’t have any license, ID, or state-issued document that the MMJ program has revoked
• Cannot have been convicted of a disqualifying criminal condition in the last five years
• If they have a medical license, the license must be in good standing
• Cannot already be a caregiver to a qualified patient

Find a Practitioner

What are the side effects of medical cannabis?

While generally considered safe, CBD & THC may cause drowsiness, lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, and, in rare instances, damage to the liver. Taking CBD or THC with other medications that have similar side effects may increase the risk of unwanted symptoms or toxicity.

In other words, taking CBD or THC at the same time with OTC or prescription medications and substances that cause sleepiness, such as opioids, benzodiazepines (such as Xanax or Ativan), antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines (such as Benadryl), or alcohol may lead to increased sleepiness, fatigue, and possibly accidental falls and accidents when driving.

Increased sedation and tiredness may also happen when using certain herbal supplements, such as kava, melatonin, and St. John’s wort. Taking CBD or THC with stimulants (such as Adderall) may lead to decreased appetite, while taking it with the diabetes drug metformin or certain heartburn drugs (such as Prilosec) may increase the risk of diarrhea.