Mississippi

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP) was established under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 41-137-1 through 41-137-67), enacted in 2022 and administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). To qualify as a registered qualifying patient, a person must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Is at least 18 years of age. Minors with qualifying conditions may participate with a parent or legal guardian registered as their designated caregiver.

2. Has one of the following qualifying debilitating medical conditions, certified by a registered Certifying Practitioner, as listed in the MMCP qualifying conditions:

• • 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.

3. Has a written certification issued on an MSDH-approved form, following an in-person assessment by a registered Certifying Practitioner.

4. Is registered with the MMCP through the MMCP Licensing Portal and holds a valid Registered Qualifying Patient Identification Card.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Schedule an in-person appointment with a Mississippi-registered Certifying Practitioner.

An initial in-person assessment is required. Eligible practitioners include physicians (MD or DO), certified nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and optometrists who are registered with the MMCP and licensed to prescribe medicine in Mississippi.

Step 2: Obtain a written certification on the MSDH-approved form.

Your practitioner will submit your electronic certification directly through the MMCP system. Your written certification must be submitted within six (6) months preceding the date of your patient application.

Step 3: Register through the MMCP Licensing Portal.

Register at the MMCP Licensing Portal. You will need a valid e-mail address to create an account. Once your account is set up, complete and submit your patient application. You will need to upload a passport-style photograph and provide a valid state-issued photo ID or proof of Mississippi residency.

Step 4: Pay the registration fee.

The standard nonrefundable registration fee is $25.00. Reduced and waived fees apply as follows:

• Medicaid participants: $15.00
• 100% disabled veterans and disabled first responders: fee waived (documentation required)

Step 5: Receive your electronic registry identification card.

Upon approval, MSDH will issue your Registered Qualifying Patient Identification Card within five (5) days. Cards are issued electronically. You print or download your card from your MMCP portal account. Allow up to 10 days for application review and approval after all required documents are submitted, per the MMCP Patients and Caregivers page.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Registered qualifying patients must renew their registry identification card annually. Cards are valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance or last renewal.

To renew:

• Schedule an appointment with your registered Certifying Practitioner to obtain a new written certification.
• Log in to the MMCP Licensing Portal and submit a Patient Renewal application.
• Pay the nonrefundable renewal fee of $25.00. Medicaid participants pay $15.00. The fee is waived for 100% disabled veterans and disabled first responders. 

Patients may update their contact information or designated caregiver through the portal by submitting a Patient Update application. Patients must notify MSDH within 20 calendar days of any change in name, address, or qualifying condition status.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Minor patients may participate in the MMCP. For registered qualifying patients who are minors, only a licensed physician (MD or DO) may serve as the certifying practitioner. Certified nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and optometrists may not certify minor patients.

The certifying physician must explain the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis to the minor's parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian must provide written consent acknowledging the potential risks and their role as caregiver. A parent or legal guardian must register as the minor's designated caregiver through the MMCP Licensing Portal.

A caregiver

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• May assist no more than five (5) registered qualifying patients.
• Must not have a disqualifying felony offense. A disqualifying felony offense includes a conviction for a crime of violence, a conviction classified as a felony in the jurisdiction where committed, or a conviction for a state or federal controlled substances law classified as a felony, including any service of probation, incarceration, or supervised release within the previous five (5) years. A disqualifying offense does not include conduct that the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act would have permitted had it been in effect at the time of the conduct.
• A criminal background check is required. The nonrefundable background check fee is $37.00.
• Must register through the MMCP Licensing Portal after the qualifying patient's card has been issued.
• The standard nonrefundable caregiver registration fee is $25.00, in addition to the background check fee.

The MSDH issues a Registered Designated Caregiver Identification Card upon approval. Caregiver cards are renewed annually, with the same fee structure.

Dispensaries: 

After your enrollment is approved, registered patients may purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries in Mississippi. A searchable list of licensed dispensaries, cultivators, and other cannabis establishments is available through the MMCP Business Search.

What to bring:

• Your valid MMCP Registry Identification Card (electronic card printed or downloaded from your portal account)
• Government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment: insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis products

POSSESSION AND PURCHASE LIMITS

Purchase and possession limits are measured in Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEUs). One MMCEU is equal to:

• 3.5 grams of medical cannabis flower
• 1 gram of total THC in a medical cannabis concentrate 
• 1 gram of total THC in an infused product 

Note: There is no possession limit on nonconsumable medical cannabis products, including suppositories, ointments, soaps, lotions, and other topical agents

Resident patients are subject to the following limits:

• Purchase limit: no more than 6 MMCEUs per week, and no more than 24 MMCEUs in any rolling 30-day period
• Possession limit: no more than 28 MMCEUs at any one time

A Certifying Practitioner may set a lower limit on a patient's card. The limits on your card will reflect what your practitioner has authorized.

Home Cultivation:

Registered patients may use medical cannabis in private locations. 

Patients may NOT:

• Smoke, vape, or inhale medical cannabis in a public place. "Public place" means any area to which the general public is invited or permitted, regardless of ownership, and any area owned or controlled by a municipality, county, state, or federal government, including streets, sidewalks, and other forms of public transportation. A private residential dwelling is not a public place.
• Smoke, vape, or inhale medical cannabis in a motor vehicle, whether as the driver or a passenger.
• Possess or use medical cannabis in any correctional facility, unless the facility has elected to allow cardholders to engage in the medical use of medical cannabis.
• Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, train, motorboat, or other conveyance while impaired by or under the influence of medical cannabis.
• Undertake any task while under the influence of medical cannabis that would constitute negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, or a breach of any applicable professional or occupational standard of care.

SMOKING AND VAPING RESTRICTIONS

Smoking, vaping, and all other methods of inhalation of medical cannabis are prohibited in any public place and in any motor vehicle. The statute expressly states that "the term 'smoking' includes vaping and any other method of inhalation of medical cannabis."

Patients who violate these restrictions may be subject to civil, criminal, or other penalties under Mississippi law. The Act itself does not specify a fixed fine amount for patient inhalation violations; penalties are subject to applicable state and local law.

Mississippi does not have a legal adult-use cannabis market. A valid medical cannabis registration is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in the state.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Legal and Civil Protections

Registered qualifying patients and registered designated caregivers who hold a valid registry identification card and possess an allowable amount of medical cannabis are presumed to be engaged in lawful medical use under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.

A cardholder who possesses a valid registry identification card is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including any civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or any occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for:

• The lawful medical use of medical cannabis, provided the cardholder does not possess more than the allowable amount
• Financial reimbursement to a registered designated caregiver for direct costs incurred in assisting with the cardholder's medical use
• Transferring medical cannabis to a licensed testing facility for testing
• Compensating a licensed dispensary for goods or services provided

Possession of, or application for, a registry identification card may not constitute probable cause or reasonable suspicion, may not be used to support a search of the person or their property, and may not subject the person or their property to inspection by any governmental agency.

Child Custody

A person may not be denied custody of or visitation rights or parenting time with a minor solely on the basis of their status as a registered cardholder.

PRIVACY PROTECTIONS

All data in license and registration applications and supporting data submitted by registered qualifying patients, registered designated caregivers, medical cannabis establishments, and nonresident cardholders, including data on designated caregivers and practitioners, is classified as private data on individuals. This information is confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

Data kept or maintained by a state agency under the MMCP may not be used for any purpose not provided for in the Act and may not be combined or linked with any other list or database.

The MMCP operates a secure verification system that enables law enforcement personnel and licensed medical cannabis establishments to verify the status of registry identification cards. The system confirms only whether a registry identification number corresponds to a current, valid card. It does not disclose the underlying patient data to the public.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong:

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Mississippi’s medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway alongside adult-use access.

Mississippi does not honor out-of-state medical cannabis registry identification cards for direct access to licensed dispensaries. However, out-of-state patients may apply for a Nonresident Qualifying Patient Identification Card, which allows legal purchase and possession of medical cannabis at licensed Mississippi dispensaries during a short visit.

WHO QUALIFIES AS A NONRESIDENT PATIENT

To qualify for a Nonresident Qualifying Patient Identification Card, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

• Has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition by a practitioner licensed to prescribe medicine in their home state or territory
• Is not a resident of Mississippi, or has been a resident of Mississippi for fewer than 45 days
• Holds an active, valid medical cannabis identification card issued by their home state or territory
• Has a medical condition that would qualify for the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. The condition does not need to be diagnosed by a Mississippi-registered practitioner, but it must correspond to a qualifying condition under the MMCP
• Has completed the application process with the MSDH through the MMCP Licensing Portal

HOW TO APPLY

Applications may be submitted up to 30 days before arriving in Mississippi. The application is completed online through the MMCP Licensing Portal.

Required documentation includes:

• Full legal name and any aliases
• Home state or territory of residence
• Home state or territory medical cannabis card number, issuing state or territory, and expiration date
• Medical documentation supporting the qualifying diagnosis
• Valid government-issued photo ID (serves as identity verification and proof of non-residency)
• Passport-style photograph
• Nonrefundable application fee of $75.00

CARD VALIDITY AND RENEWAL

A Nonresident Qualifying Patient Identification Card is valid for 15 days from the date of issuance. A nonresident cardholder may apply for one renewal, for a second 15-day period. A nonresident card may not be issued for more than two separate 15-day periods in any 365-day period.

PURCHASE AND POSSESSION LIMITS FOR NONRESIDENT CARDHOLDERS

Nonresident cardholders are subject to lower purchase and possession limits than Mississippi residents.

• Purchase limit: no more than 6 MMCEUs per week
• Purchase limit: no more than 12 MMCEUs in any consecutive 15-day period
• Possession limit: no more than 14 MMCEUs at any one time

One MMCEU is equal to 3.5 grams of cannabis flower, 1 gram of total THC in a concentrate or 1 gram of total THC in an infused product.

There is no possession limit on nonconsumable medical cannabis products, including topicals, ointments, soaps, lotions, and suppositories.

For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.