The Mississippi State Legislature has taken a significant step forward in the study of medical marijuana applications. On Tuesday, they passed legislation establishing the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program at the University of Mississippi. The bill, which has been ratified by Governor Tate Reeves, aims to deepen our understanding of cannabis’s therapeutic potential and its impact on patient care.
This bipartisan initiative, spearheaded by State Senator Kevin Blackwell (R) and co-authored by State Senators Reginald Jackson (D), Rod Hickman (D), Sarita Simmons (D), and Nicole Boyd (R), seeks to leverage Ole Miss’s long-standing expertise as a premier research institution. The University of Mississippi has been the sole federally authorized cannabis cultivation site for research since 1968. This distinction held until 2022 when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) authorized additional growers for research.
The program will be housed within the university’s School of Pharmacy, operating under the aegis of the newly established National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE). It will collaborate closely with the Mississippi Department of Health’s Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program and various patient advocacy groups. The goal is to disseminate findings that are readily understandable to healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, law enforcement, and policymakers.
The bill outlines the creation of an advisory board to oversee research compliance and strategic direction. It also provides the necessary funding to support scientific investigations, a crucial element for exploring new therapeutic potentials and educational initiatives surrounding medical cannabis.
“The National Center for Cannabis Research and Education will help to ensure that Mississippi remains at the forefront of natural products research,” noted Senator Boyd. “I am proud of the University of Mississippi for continuing to be a national leader in research excellence.”
