By the May 3 deadline, at least 28 cities and 12 counties had opted out from Mississippi’s medical cannabis program. However, the state’s health division doesn’t keep an official list of municipalities that have banned marijuana businesses. It is not clear if the Department of Revenue (the other state agency responsible for running and supervising the program) has any kind of official list of local governments that don’t wish to participate. At the time of publication, the agency had not responded to a request to comment.
Soon, both agencies will accept applications for licenses to administer the state’s long-awaited medicinal marijuana program. Although the Mississippi State Department of Health has an optional verification form for municipalities, MSDH stated that “there is not mandate for local governments [to report to us] that they are opting-out.” It also claimed it doesn’t have a complete list. The Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association, an advocacy and business group, has created the most comprehensive list of areas that have opted out. The list includes cities in Jackson and other counties in the Delta that have decided not to allow dispensaries or cultivation facilities to open. The director of the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association Ken Newburger said that the law didn’t contain a directive for municipalities on how to report. He said that while there is no official list at this time, it shouldn’t be a reason to allow anyone to try to circumvent the system when applications are due. The local officials will have the power to stop you from opening a dispensary within a city that has not opted out. Stop you and 2. Newburger stated, “Stop you and 2. There was some confusion during the week following the opt-out deadline. Flowood voted to leave the three categories that allow cities to participate in the law: cultivation, distribution, and processing of products. Some thought that the city had opted in, as it will have a test facility.
However, testing facilities are not one of the categories that municipalities can control. Therefore, the city’s status in medical marijuana will not affect the facility that is slated to open there. READ MORE: Mississippi cities are opting out of medical marijuana. Business hopefuls have been expelled. Each county’s decision not to participate in the program only applies to its unincorporated areas. This means that some cities can still be part of the program. Patients living in areas that are not eligible can still have medical marijuana and continue to use it. The trade association works with entrepreneurs and advocates in opt-out regions to create petitions that would trigger special elections. Local governments who have opted out can also opt back in at anytime.
However, those who didn’t opt in by May 3rd don’t have any options. The health department plans to accept online applications for licenses. This includes those for patients, medical professionals, cultivation facilities and processing facilities, testing facilities as well as for transportation businesses. The Department of Revenue will begin accepting applications for dispensaries licensing in July. The waiver forms that the agency has now made available allow potential businesses to obtain permission from schools and churches to operate if they are less than 1,000 feet but not closer than 500 feet. Dispensaries cannot be located closer than 1,000 feet without a waiver. It also prohibits dispensaries from being within 1 500 feet of one another. READ MORE: Mississippi’s new medical marijuana law attracts millions of investment Melvin Robinson III, a spokesperson for the trade association said that the early stages and rules are being implemented as planned. Robinson stated that everyone is getting more excited with each passing day.
Robinson stated that he wouldn’t be surprised to see licensing agencies face a backlog of applications because of the high interest. Robinson expects that their websites will be overwhelmed when they begin accepting online applications this summer. Newberger explained that the portal is being used by the health department to accept applications from other states. He also expected an increase in applications.
He said that not everyone who applies will be granted one. According to the Department of Health, there will be a 30-day approval process for both its business licenses and physician-related licenses. Patients will have a five day waiting period. Cities that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing Cities that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation and processing Counties that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas) Counties that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas)
There was some confusion during the week following the deadline. Flowood voted to leave the three categories that allow cities to participate in the law: cultivation, distribution, and processing of products. Some thought that the city had opted in, as it will have a test facility.
However, testing facilities aren’t one of the areas municipalities can control. Therefore, the city’s status in medical marijuana will not affect the facility that is slated to open there. READ MORE: Mississippi cities are opting out of medical marijuana. Business hopefuls have been expelled. Each county’s decision not to participate in the program only applies to its unincorporated areas. This means that some cities can still be part of the program. Patients living in areas that are not eligible can still have medical marijuana and continue to use it. The trade association works with entrepreneurs and advocates in opt-out regions to create petitions that would trigger special elections. Local governments who have opted out can also opt back in at anytime.
However, those who didn’t opt in by May 3rd don’t have any options. The health department plans to accept online applications for licenses. This includes those for patients, medical professionals, cultivation facilities and processing facilities, testing facilities as well as for transportation businesses. The Department of Revenue will begin accepting applications for dispensaries licensing in July. The waiver forms that the agency has now made available allow potential businesses to obtain permission from schools and churches to operate if they are less than 1,000 feet but not closer than 500 feet. Dispensaries cannot be located closer than 1,000 feet without a waiver. It also prohibits dispensaries from being within 1 500 feet of one another. READ MORE: Mississippi’s new medical marijuana law attracts millions of investment Melvin Robinson III, a spokesperson for the trade association said that the early stages and rules of the program are progressing as expected. Robinson stated that everyone is getting more excited with each passing day.
Robinson stated that he wouldn’t be surprised to see licensing agencies face a backlog of applications because of the high interest. Robinson expects that their websites will be overwhelmed when they begin accepting online applications this summer. Newberger explained that the portal is being used by the health department to accept applications from other states. He also expected an increase in applications.
He said that not everyone who applies will be granted one. According to the Department of Health, there will be a 30-day approval process for both its business licenses and physician-related licenses. Patients will have a five day waiting period. Cities that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing Cities that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation and processing Counties that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas) Counties that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas) Any amount helps us keep producing quality journalism for Mississippi. Mississippi Today Nonprofit Mississippi News Editor’s Note: The complete list of counties and cities that opted out is included at the end of this story. A total of 28 cities and 12 counties opted out of Mississippi’s medical marijuana program before the May 3 deadline. However, the state’s health department doesn’t keep an official list of municipalities that restrict cannabis businesses. It is not clear if the Department of Revenue (the other state agency responsible for running and supervising the program) has any kind of official list of local governments that don’t wish to participate. At the time of publication, the agency had not responded to a request to comment.
Soon, both agencies will accept applications for licenses to administer the state’s long-awaited medicinal marijuana program. Although the Mississippi State Department of Health has an optional verification form for municipalities, MSDH stated that “there is not mandate for local governments [to report to us] that they are opting-out.” It also claimed it doesn’t have a complete list. The Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association, an advocacy and business group, has created the most comprehensive list of areas that have opted out. The list includes cities in Jackson and other counties in the Delta that have decided not to allow dispensaries or cultivation facilities to open. The director of the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association Ken Newburger said that the law didn’t contain a directive for municipalities on how to report. He said that while there is no official list at this time, it shouldn’t be a reason to allow anyone to try to circumvent the system when applications are due. The local officials will have the power to stop you from opening a dispensary within a city that has not opted out. Stop you and 2. Newburger stated, “Stop you and 2. There was some confusion during the week following the opt-out deadline. Flowood voted to leave the three categories that allow cities to participate in: cultivation, distribution, and product processing. Some thought that the city had opted in, as it will have a test facility.
However, testing facilities aren’t one of the areas municipalities can control. Therefore, the city’s status in medical marijuana will not affect the facility that is slated to open there. READ MORE: Mississippi cities are opting out of medical marijuana. Business hopefuls have been expelled. Each county’s decision not to participate in the program only applies to its unincorporated areas. This means that some cities can still be part of the program. Patients living in areas that are not eligible can still have medical marijuana and continue to use it. The trade association works with entrepreneurs and advocates in opt-out regions to create petitions that would trigger special elections. Local governments who have opted out can also opt back in at anytime.
However, those who didn’t opt in by May 3rd don’t have any options. The health department plans to accept online applications for licenses. This includes those for patients, medical professionals, cultivation facilities and processing facilities, testing facilities as well as for transportation businesses. The Department of Revenue will begin accepting applications for dispensaries licensing in July. The waiver forms that the agency has now made available allow potential businesses to obtain permission from schools and churches to operate if they are less than 1,000 feet but not closer than 500 feet. Dispensaries cannot be located closer than 1,000 feet without a waiver. It also prohibits dispensaries from being within 1 500 feet of one another. READ MORE: Mississippi’s new medical marijuana law attracts millions of investment Melvin Robinson III, a spokesperson for the trade association said that the program is in its early stages and the rules are being developed as planned. Robinson stated that everyone is getting more excited with each passing day.
Robinson stated that he wouldn’t be surprised to see licensing agencies face a backlog of applications because of the high interest. Robinson expects that their websites will be overwhelmed when they begin accepting online applications this summer. Newberger explained that the portal is being used by the health department to accept applications from other states. He also expected an increase in applications.
He said that not everyone who applies will be granted one. According to the Department of Health, there will be a 30-day approval process for both its business licenses and physician-related licenses. Patients will have a five day waiting period. Cities that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing Cities that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation and processing Counties that opted out of dispensaries and cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas) Counties that don’t allow dispensaries but do allow cultivation/processing (only applies to unincorporated areas)
