Mississippi

A Certifying Practitioner is a Mississippi-licensed health care professional authorized to prescribe medicine under their respective occupational board and the laws of this state. Eligible practitioner types are confirmed on the MMCP Practitioners page:

• Physicians (MD or DO), licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
• Physician assistants, licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
• Certified nurse practitioners, licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Nursing
• Optometrists, licensed to prescribe medicine by the Mississippi State Board of Optometry

All certifications must be issued within the practitioner's respective scope of practice and in the context of a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship.

Only licensed physicians (MD or DO) may issue written certifications for minor patients. Certified nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and optometrists may not certify patients who are minors.

A Certifying Practitioner must register with the MSDH through the MMCP Licensing Portal before issuing any written certification. 

To register:

Step 1: Complete the required 8 hours of MSDH-approved continuing education in medical cannabis before submitting a registration application. See Initial Education Requirement below.

Step 2: Register for an account at the MMCP Licensing Portal. You will need a valid email address to create an account.

Step 3: Log in and select "Create New Application." Choose the practitioner registration application type.

Step 4: Complete and submit the application with required documentation. Submit the application through the portal.

Practitioner registration is annual. Annual renewal requires completion of 5 hours of MSDH-approved continuing education in medical cannabis. See the MMCP Practitioners FAQ for additional information.

INITIAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Before registering with MSDH to certify patients, a Certifying Practitioner must complete a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education in medical cannabis.

Only MSDH-approved continuing education is acceptable to satisfy this requirement. The approved course is available through the Mississippi State Medical Association at MSDH Approved Medical Cannabis. 

A practitioner is not required to hold any additional qualifications beyond their existing prescribing license and the 8-hour education requirement to register and begin certifying patients.

CONTINUING EDUCATION (CME/CEU)

After the first year of registration, Certifying Practitioners must complete 5 hours of MSDH-approved continuing education in medical cannabis annually to maintain their registration.

Only MSDH-approved continuing education is accepted. The approved course is available through the Mississippi State Medical Association at msmaonline.com.

• Cancer
• Parkinson's Disease
• Huntington's Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Glaucoma
• Spastic Quadriplegia
• Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Hepatitis
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn's Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Sickle-Cell Anemia
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Agitation of Dementia
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Autism
• Pain Refractory to appropriate Opioid management
• Diabetic/Peripheral Neuropathy
• Spinal Cord Disease or severe injury
• Any chronic terminal or debilitating disease or medical condition, or its treatment, that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome, chronic pain, severe or intractable nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

Any Mississippi resident may petition the MSDH to add qualifying conditions to this list. The MSDH will approve or deny a petition within 60 days of submission.

Step 1: Conduct an in-person assessment.

An in-person assessment is required before issuing an initial written certification. For purposes of renewal, a registered practitioner may conduct a registered cardholder’s recertification assessment via telehealth if he/she previously evaluated the registered cardholder in person. Telehealth is not permitted for initial certifications.

Step 2: Establish a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship.

The certification must be issued within the scope of a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship and within the practitioner's scope of practice. Practitioners may not certify patients outside their area of clinical competence.

Step 3: Determine that the patient has a qualifying debilitating medical condition and would likely receive medical or palliative benefit from medical cannabis.

Step 4: Complete and submit the written certification electronically through the MMCP system.

The written certification must be submitted electronically through the MMCP portal. The patient will then be able to access the certification from their portal account to complete their patient registration application. The written certification is valid for 12 months unless the practitioner specifies a shorter period.

Step 5: Maintain records.

Document the assessment and certification in the patient's medical record. 

Note: Certifying Practitioners may not refer patients to a specific dispensary, advertise within a dispensary, or hold a financial interest in a medical cannabis establishment

A patient's written certification is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance unless the Certifying Practitioner specifies a shorter validity period. Patient registry identification cards are valid for one year from the date of issuance. Annual card renewal requires a new written certification from a registered Certifying Practitioner.

For recertification visits, a registered practitioner may conduct the assessment via telehealth, provided the patient was previously evaluated by that practitioner in person

Medical professionals have a legal right to recommend cannabis as a treatment in any state, as protected by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Title III section 301) which became law on December 2, 2022, and the First Amendment (established by a 2004 United States Supreme Court decision to uphold earlier federal court rulings that doctors, and their patients have a fundamental Constitutional right to freely discuss treatment options).

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