Congratulations, Magnolia State. You can finally apply for a Mississippi Marijuana Card!
The state’s medical marijuana license portal is now open and accepting applications from patients, doctors, and select cannabis businesses. And while this is great news, there are two catches: First, don’t expect to be able to buy medical marijuana for several months yet; second, you can expect some red tape and hassles in attempting to navigate another government bureaucracy website.
Unless, of course, you make an appointment with one of our doctors and let us do the hard work for you!
Medical Marijuana Won’t be Available in Mississippi Until Late 2022 or Early 2021
Although the state’s medical marijuana market is now officially open, Mississippi Today reports that you won’t be able to buy any products for at least six months.
“I know everyone would love for (the state’s market) to be up and running,” Jim Craig, the director of the Office of Health Protection, told Mississippi Today. “(But) it looks like it will be the end of the year (before) we see products.”
And there are some really simple reasons for this delay: There aren’t any doctors yet who are licensed to prescribe Mississippi Marijuana Cards, and there isn’t any medical marijuana available for purchase yet either.
Doctors, Most Cannabis Businesses Licensed Through Department of Health Portal
While the Mississippi Department of Revenue will be responsible for processing applications from and issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries, doctors, optometrists, and nurse practitioners, cultivators, testing facilities, and cannabis businesses’ employees will all be licensed through the same Department of Health portal where patients can apply for their Mississippi Marijuana Cards.
And until those professionals get licensed, there will be no way to purchase medical marijuana. Patients can’t get their cards without first being approved by a licensed medical professional, and medical marijuana can’t be sold without first being procured from a licensed grower and tested by a licensed facility.
Licensing Process for Medical Practitioners Likely to Slow Availability of Medical Marijuana
WAPT, Jackson’s ABC affiliate, spoke with Angie Calhoun, founder of the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance, who said another delay in the availability of medical marijuana will be the eight-hour health department class medical practitioners have to compete as part of their licensing process. So until those providers have their applications approved and training complete, there will be no one to provide approval for patient license applications
“So, there's going to be a little bit of a lag time, most likely, before those patients can get their medical cannabis card,” Calhoun said. “We're asking for our patients to be patient.”
But the good news is that the portal opened on June 1st, and by the 6th applications were coming in steadily from patients and professionals alike.
Early Application Numbers for Medical Marijuana Program Look Promising
According to WAPT, after less than a week the program had received 1,800 applications from would-be patients. According to Kris Jones, the director of the state’s medical marijuana program, about 85% of users who have created accounts through the Health Department portal are patients. However, Jones also reports that at that point fifteen businesses, nine medical practitioners, and a dozen would-be workers in the cannabis industry had also completed their applications.
That kind of participation so early on bodes well for the state’s medical marijuana program for a couple of reasons. First, the more patients who seek out Mississippi Marijuana Cards, the more medical professionals who are likely to seek licenses in order to meet the demand in the market. More medical practitioners means quicker application processes for patients, which in turn should attract more patient applications.
Higher Patient Participation Leads to Lower Medical Marijuana Costs, Benefiting All Mississippians
A high number of participating patients is important for keeping the cost of medical marijuana down for all. If there is a high number of patients looking to purchase cannabis, that should attract more marijuana businesses, as they would see a potential place for themselves in the market.
And more businesses means more competition, and it’s a simple, basic fact of economics that “when firms have to compete for customers, it leads to lower prices, higher quality goods and services, greater variety, and more innovation.”
And lower prices, higher quality goods and services, greater variety, and more innovation should all help attract more patients, which would then grow the program even more. And a robust medical marijuana program would be a good thing for all Mississippians, not just cannabis patients, as it would bolster the state’s economy and revenue.
Don’t Struggle With Government Bureaucracy on Your Own. Let Us Do the Hard Work for You!
Although the opening of the Health Department’s cannabis portal is great news in that it signals that medical marijuana is finally on its way to Mississippi, it’s also a reminder that would-be patients will have to jump through government hoops before they finally cross the finish line and get their Mississippi Marijuana Cards.
Fortunately, our helpful, friendly staff are here to simplify the process, connecting you with a certified doctor and filing all your necessary paperwork. Reserve an evaluation online today, and we’ll schedule an appointment for you with one of our highly trained, compassionate cannabis doctors just as soon as Mississippi’s medical marijuana market is up and running. And now that the Health Department’s portal is open and accepting applications, that won’t be long at all!
You’ll meet with your new doctor virtually, using your smartphone or computer for a telemedicine appointment. You and your doctor will discuss your conditions so that they can determine whether you qualify for a Mississippi Marijuana Card. And you’ll do it all without even leaving your home! If for some reason your doctor finds that you don’t qualify for a card, you’ll only pay a flat, nominal fee. Not only that, but by making your reservation today, you can save $25 off the cost of the evaluation. You have literally nothing to lose, and safe, natural relief to gain!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
Helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at (833) 781-6635, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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