<p>Nearly 1 year after Governor Tate Reeves signed legislation SB 2095 into law, medical cannabis sales have started. Before Governor Reeves signed SB 2095, there was no way to legally access high THC products in the state of Mississippi. The only options available where low-THC cannabis products, which were also exclusively for medicinal use. Now with medical cannabis, patients are able to treat their aches and pains legally. It wasn't an easy path to get medical marijuana legalized, the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association stated they had been advocating for legal medical cannabis since 2018.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1674755750/articles/h0utzcnvu7zdkt8p8r9b.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1674755750/articles/h0utzcnvu7zdkt8p8r9b.jpg" alt="Jar of Weed" width="225" height="150" /></p>
<h2 id="0">How Many Dispensaries Are Already Selling Medical Marijuana?</h2>
<p>In their 2022 annual report, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program reported 154 dispensary licenses issused. Of course not all of these dispensaries are already up and running. Even though medical weed has been legal for almost a year, the first ever legal medical cannabis sales in the state of Mississippi happened on Wednesday. There are at least 3 dispensaries offering medical marijuana as of January 26, 2023.</p>
<p>A ton of dispensaries are eager to open, but are lacking product. Starbuds, Hybried Relief, and The Cannabis Company are 3 dispensaries that have already started selling products to the Mississippi medical market. They were able to secure their product before the rest and as a result get a head start in making sales.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1674755940/articles/sjk6mrhlwzglsujlzadl.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1674755940/articles/sjk6mrhlwzglsujlzadl.jpg" alt="Cultivation Room Growing Weed" width="250" height="250" /></p>
<h3 id="1">What Do I Need To Be Able To Buy Weed Legally In Mississippi?</h3>
<p>To be able to visit a medical marijuana dispensary and make a purchase, you must be a state registered medical marijuana patient. If you want to start smoking weed, you first need to see if you have whats called a "Qualifying Medical Condition". Since Mississippi only offers cannabis for medical usage, you can't go and get a medical card because you want to. You must visit a physician, optometrist, or nurse practitioner that is qualifying in Mississippi's medical marijuana program, so that they could issue you a medical card. They will only issue you a medical card if you have qualifying conditions. Those qualifying conditions include: Cancer, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Glaucoma, Autism, Chron's Disease, and many more. You can find the full list <a title="List of MS Qualifying Conditions" href="https://msdh.ms.gov/page/30,24802,425.html">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If your doctor deems you have a qualifying condition and provides you a medical certification, you must apply online to the Medical Cannabis Program of Mississippi. You can do that by using an online form on the government website. After you register, you'll receive an electronic ID card. This is what you use at the dispensary. In Mississippi you're able to buy up to up to 21 grams per week. It was originally believed that you may only but 1/8th per day, but you actually may use all 6 days worth in one purchase. That gives patients a limit of about 3 ounces per month.</p>
<p>There are already over 1,700 patients registered with the program, and that figure is sure to climb every month. Legalizing medical marijuana in Mississippi was a long process, but it was well worth the wait. Now residents of Mississippi can use medical cannabis to help treat their issues.</p>