MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) Blackwell
AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT; TO AUTHORIZE MEDICAL CANNABIS USE BY CERTAIN PATIENTS WHO HAVE DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS TO PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, MEDICAL CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS, DISPENSARIES, PHARMACIES AND TESTING FACILITIES FOR THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL ISSUE REGISTRY IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO QUALIFYING PATIENTS AND REGISTRATIONS TO QUALIFYING FACILITIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING OF CANNABIS RESEARCH FACILITIES, TESTING FACILITIES AND CULTIVATION-PROCESSING FACILITIES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE; TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENACT CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ACT; TO PROHIBIT LOCAL TAXES ON CANNABIS OR CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS; TO PROVIDE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO MAKE ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 27-65-28, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE RETAIL SALES OF MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS SHALL BE TAXED AT 10%; TO IMPOSE AN EXCISE TAX OF 4% ON MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS; TO CREATE THE WORKFORCE AND COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; TO PROVIDE THAT REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALES TAX AND EXCISE TAX ON MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND, AND THAT THE FIRST 25% OF THE REVENUE SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE STATE SHARE FOR EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVES AS ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 37-21-51, THE NEXT 25% SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR A STANDARDIZED DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, AND THE REMAINING FUNDS SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD AS ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 37-106-9 TO CREATE A "LAST-DOLLAR" SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, ACADEMIC OR CAREER AND TECHNICAL, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD, BOOKS AND MATERIALS TO MISSISSIPPI STUDENTS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-29-125, 41-29-127, 41-29-136, 41-29-137, 41-29-139, 41-29-141 AND 41-29-143, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Title. Sections 1 through 25 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act."
SECTION 2. Definitions. For purposes of this act, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein:
(a) "Allowable amount of cannabis" means a dispensary shall not provide to a qualifying patient, during any one (1) fourteen-day period, an amount of medical cannabis that exceeds two and one-half (2.5) ounces by weight. At no one (1) time shall a qualified patient possess more than two and one-half (2.5) ounces of medical cannabis. The weight limitation herein shall not include any ingredients combined with medical cannabis to prepare edible products, topical products, ointments, oils, tinctures, or other products.
(b) "Bona fide practitioner-patient relationship" means:
(i) A practitioner and patient have a treatment or consulting relationship, during the course of which the practitioner has completed an assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition;
(ii) The practitioner has consulted with the patient with respect to the patient's debilitating medical condition; and
(iii) The practitioner is available to or offers to provide follow-up care and treatment to the patient.
(c) "Cannabis" means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis, the flower, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or its resin, including whole plant extracts.
(d) "Cannabis products" means concentrated cannabis, cannabis extracts, and products that are infused with cannabis or an extract thereof and are intended for use or consumption by humans. The term includes, without limitation, edible cannabis products, beverages, topical products, ointments, oils, and tinctures that contain tetrahydrocannabinol except those excluded from control under Sections 41-29-113 and 41-29-136.
(e) "Cannabis research facility" or "research facility" means an independent entity registered with MDAC pursuant to this act that acquires cannabis from cultivation-processing facilities in order to possess, deliver, transfer, and transport medical cannabis products during the process of investigating and analyzing cannabis in order to develop best practices for specific medical conditions, develop medicines, and provide commercial access for medical use.
(f) "Cannabis testing facility" or "testing facility" means an independent entity registered with MDAC pursuant to this act to analyze the safety and potency of cannabis.
(g) "Cardholder" means a qualifying patient or a designated caregiver who has been issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.
(h) "Cultivation-processing facility" means an entity licensed by MDAC and registered with the Department of Revenue that acquires, possesses, grows, cultivates, harvests, processes, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies, and sells cannabis and related supplies to medical cannabis establishments, pharmacies, and hospitals.
(i) "Debilitating medical condition" means:
(i) 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, autism with self-injurious or aggressive behavior, pain refractory to appropriate opioid management, spinal cord disease or severe injury, or the treatment of these conditions;
(ii) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition, or its treatment, that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; chronic or debilitating pain; severe or intractable nausea; seizures; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or
(iii) Any other serious medical condition or its treatment added by the department, as provided for in Section 6 of this act.
(j) "Department" means the Mississippi State Department of Health.
(k) "Designated caregiver" means a person who:
(i) Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age unless the person is the parent or legal guardian of each qualifying patient the person assists;
(ii) Has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of cannabis;
(iii) Has not been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense; and
(iv) Assists no more than the number of qualifying patients allowed by department regulations with their medical use of cannabis, unless the designated caregiver's qualifying patients each reside in or are admitted to a health care facility or residential care facility where the designated caregiver is employed.
A designated caregiver is prohibited from consuming cannabis provided for use to a qualified patient.
(l) "Disqualifying felony offense" means:
(i) A crime of violence, as defined in Section 97-3-2, or that was defined as a violent crime in the law of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, and that was classified as a felony in the jurisdiction where the person was convicted;
(ii) A violation of a state- or federal-controlled substances law that was classified as a felony in the jurisdiction where the person was convicted, not including:
1. An offense for which the sentence, including any term of probation, incarceration, or supervised release, was completed ten (10) or more years earlier; or
2. An offense that consisted of conduct for which this act would likely have prevented a conviction, but the conduct either occurred before the effective date of this act or was prosecuted by an authority other than the State of Mississippi; or
(iii) Embezzlement.
(m) "Edible cannabis products" means products that:
(i) Contain or are infused with cannabis or an extract thereof;
(ii) Are intended for human consumption by oral ingestion; and
(iii) Are presented in the form of foodstuffs, beverages, extracts, oils, tinctures, and other similar products.
(n) "MDAC" means the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
(o) "Medical cannabis" means cannabis, cannabis products, and edible cannabis.
(p) "Medical cannabis dispensary" or "dispensary" means an entity registered with the Department of Revenue that acquires, possesses, stores, delivers, transfers, transports, sells, supplies, or dispenses medical cannabis, paraphernalia, or related supplies and educational materials to cardholders.
(q) "Medical cannabis establishment" means a cultivation facility or processing facility, a cannabis testing facility, dispensary, cannabis research facility, or other medical cannabis entity licensed by the appropriate agency and registered with the Department of Revenue.
(r) "Medical cannabis establishment agent" means an owner, officer, board member, employee, volunteer, or agent of a medical cannabis establishment.
(s) "Medical use" includes the acquisition, administration, cultivation, manufacture, delivery, harvest, possession, preparation, transfer, transportation, or use of medical cannabis or paraphernalia relating to the administration of medical cannabis to treat or alleviate a registered qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the patient's debilitating medical condition. The term does not include:
(i) The cultivation of cannabis unless the cultivation is done by a cultivation-processing facility; or
(ii) The extraction of resin from cannabis by solvent extraction unless the extraction is done by a cannabis product cultivation-processing facility.
(t) "Nonresident cardholder" means a person who:
(i) Has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition by a practitioner, or is the parent, guardian, conservator, or other person with authority to consent to the medical treatment of a person who has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition;
(ii) Is not a resident of Mississippi or who has been a resident of Mississippi for less than forty-five (45) days; and
(iii) Has submitted any documentation required by department regulations and has received confirmation of registration.
(u) "Other minority group" shall mean an individual who is: (a) Hispanic American; (b) American Indian; (c) Asian American; (d) Pacific Islander American; (e) a woman; or (f) a service-connected veteran with a service-connected disability as designated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
(v) "Practitioner" or "licensed medical provider" means a physician, nurse practitioner, optometrist, dentist, or other medical professional who is licensed to practice with authority to prescribe drugs to humans. In relation to a nonresident cardholder, the terms mean a physician, nurse practitioner, optometrist, dentist or chiropractor or other medical professional who is licensed with authority to prescribe drugs to humans in the state of the patient's residence.
(w) "Qualifying patient" means a person who has been diagnosed by a practitioner as having a debilitating medical condition or has been issued a written certification.
(x) "Registry identification card" means a document issued by the department that identifies a person as a registered qualifying patient or registered designated caregiver, or documentation that is deemed a registry identification card under Section 11 of this act.
(y) "Written certification" means a form approved by the department, signed and dated by a practitioner, certifying that a person suffers from a debilitating medical condition. The certification shall remain current for twelve (12) months, unless the practitioner specifies a shorter period of time, and shall be issued only after an assessment of the patient by a practitioner. A certification shall only be issued on behalf of a minor when the minor's parent or guardian is present and provides signed consent. Nothing herein shall require a practitioner to issue a certification.
SECTION 3. Protections for the medical use of cannabis. (1) A cardholder who possesses a valid registry identification card is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denial of any right or privilege, including any civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for:
(a) The medical use of cannabis under this act, if the cardholder does not possess more than the allowable amount of cannabis;
(b) Reimbursement by a registered qualifying patient to the patient's registered designated caregiver for direct costs incurred by the registered designated caregiver for assisting with the registered qualifying patient's medical use of cannabis;
(c) Transferring cannabis to a testing facility for testing;
(d) Compensating a dispensary, pharmacy, hospital, or a testing facility for goods or services provided; or
(e) Selling, transferring, or delivering cannabis seeds intended to target their specific medical condition to a cultivation-processing facility or dispensary.
(2) A nonresident cardholder shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or entity, for transporting, purchasing, possessing, or using medical cannabis pursuant to this act if the nonresident cardholder does not possess more than the allowable amount of cannabis.
(3) There is a presumption that a qualifying patient or designated caregiver is engaged in the medical use of cannabis under this act if the person is in possession of a registry identification card and an amount of cannabis that does not exceed the allowable amount. The presumption may be rebutted by evidence that conduct related to cannabis was not for the purpose of treating or alleviating a qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition under this act.
(4) A practitioner shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by the State Board of Medical Licensure or by any other occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for providing written certifications or for otherwise stating that, in the practitioner's professional opinion, a patient is likely to receive medical or palliative benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat or alleviate the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the serious or debilitating medical condition, provided that nothing in this act shall prevent a practitioner from being sanctioned for:
(a) Issuing a written certification to a patient with whom the practitioner does not have a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship; or
(b) Failing to properly evaluate a patient's medical condition.
(5) A holder of a professional or occupational license may not be subject to professional discipline solely for providing advice or services related to medical cannabis activities that are allowed under this act.
(6) An applicant for a professional or occupational license may not be denied a license based on previous employment related to medical cannabis activities that are allowed under this act.
(7) No person may be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including any civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for:
(a) Providing or selling paraphernalia to a cardholder, nonresident cardholder, or to a medical cannabis establishment;
(b) Being in the presence or vicinity of the medical use of cannabis that is exempt from criminal penalties under this act;
(c) Allowing the person's property to be used for activities that are exempt from criminal penalties under this act; or
(d) Assisting a registered qualifying patient with the act of using or administering cannabis.
(8) A medical cannabis establishment or a medical cannabis establishment agent is not subject to prosecution, search, or inspection, except by its licensing agency, under Section 17 of this act, or to seizure, or to penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing board or entity, for acting pursuant to this act and rules authorized by this act to engage in activities related to medical cannabis that are allowed by its registration.
(9) A dispensary, a dispensary agent, pharmacy, pharmacy agent, hospital, or hospital agent is not subject to prosecution, search, or inspection, except by the licensing agency, under Section 17 of this act, or to seizure, or to penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing board or entity, for acting pursuant to this act and rules authorized by this act to:
(a) Possess, transport, and store medical cannabis products;
(b) Deliver, transfer, and transport medical cannabis to testing facilities and compensate testing facilities for services provided;
(c) Accept medical cannabis products offered by a cardholder or nonresident cardholder if nothing of value is exchanged in return;
(d) Purchase or otherwise acquire medical cannabis products from cultivation-processing facilities, dispensaries, pharmacies, or hospitals; and
(e) Deliver, sell, supply, transfer, or transport medical cannabis products, and paraphernalia, and related supplies and educational materials to cardholders, nonresident cardholders, dispensaries, pharmacies, and hospitals.
(10) A cultivation-processing facility or a cultivation-processing facility agent is not subject to prosecution, search, or inspection, except by MDAC pursuant to Section 17 of this act, seizure, or penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing board or entity, for acting pursuant to this act and rules authorized by this act to:
(a) Possess, plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, produce, process, manufacture, compound, convert, prepare, pack, repack, or store medical cannabis;
(b) Deliver, transfer, or transport medical cannabis and cannabis products to testing facilities and compensate testing facilities for services provided;
(c) Accept medical cannabis products offered by a cardholder or nonresident cardholder if nothing of value is exchanged in return;
(d) Purchase or otherwise acquire medical cannabis and cannabis products from medical cannabis establishments;
(e) Purchase cannabis seeds from cardholders, nonresident cardholders, and the equivalent of a medical cannabis establishment that is registered in another jurisdiction; and
(f) Deliver, sell, supply, transfer, or transport medical cannabis products, paraphernalia, and related supplies and educational materials to cultivation-processing facilities, dispensaries, pharmacies, and hospitals.
(11) A cannabis research facility or a cannabis research facility agent is not subject to prosecution, search, or inspection, except by MDAC as authorized under this act, seizure, or penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing board or entity, for acting pursuant to this act and rules authorized by this act to:
(a) Purchase or otherwise acquire medical cannabis from cultivation-processing facilities;
(b) Possess, produce, manufacture, compound, convert, prepare, pack, repack, and store medical cannabis and cannabis products;
(c) Deliver, transfer, or transport medical cannabis, paraphernalia, and related supplies and educational materials to cultivation-processing facilities and other research facilities;
(d) Deliver, transfer, or transport medical cannabis to testing facilities and compensate testing facilities for services provided;
(e) Deliver, sell, supply, transfer, or transport medical cannabis, paraphernalia, and related supplies and educational materials to cannabis cultivation-processing facilities.
(12) A testing facility or testing facility agent is not subject to prosecution, search, or inspection, except by MDAC pursuant to Section 17 of this act, seizure, or penalty in any manner, and may not be denied any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing board or entity, for acting pursuant to this act and rules authorized by this act to:
(a) Acquire, possess, transport, and store medical cannabis and cannabis products obtained from cardholders, nonresident cardholders, and medical cannabis establishments;
(b) Return the cannabis and cannabis products to the cardholders, nonresident cardholders, and medical cannabis establishments from whom it was obtained;
(c) Test cannabis, including for potency, pesticides, mold, or contaminants; and
(d) Receive compensation for those services.
(13) A cardholder, nonresident cardholder, or the equivalent of a medical cannabis establishment that is registered in another jurisdiction may sell or donate cannabis seeds to cultivation-processing facilities.
(14) Any medical cannabis, cannabis product, paraphernalia, or other interest in or right to property that is possessed, owned, or used in connection with the medical use of cannabis as allowed under this act, or acts incidental to such use, shall not be seized or forfeited. This act shall not prevent the seizure or forfeiture of cannabis exceeding the amounts allowed under this act, nor shall it prevent seizure or forfeiture if the basis for the action is unrelated to the cannabis that is possessed, manufactured, transferred, or used pursuant to this act.
(15) Possession of, or application for, a registry identification card does not constitute probable cause or reasonable suspicion, nor shall it be used to support a search of the person or property of the person possessing or applying for the registry identification card, or otherwise subject the person or property of the person to inspection by any governmental agency.
(16) For the purposes of Mississippi state law, activities related to medical cannabis shall be considered lawful if done in accordance with this act.
(17) No law enforcement officer employed by an agency which receives state or local government funds shall expend any state or local resources, including the officer's time, to effect any arrest or seizure of medical cannabis, or conduct any investigation, on the sole basis of activity the officer believes to constitute a violation of federal law if the officer has reason to believe that such activity is in compliance with state medical cannabis laws, nor shall any such officer expend any state or local resources, including the officer's time, to provide any information or logistical support related to such activity to any federal law enforcement authority or prosecuting entity.
(18) It is the public policy of the State of Mississippi that contracts related to medical cannabis that are entered into by cardholders, medical cannabis establishments, or medical cannabis establishment agents, and those who allow property to be used by those persons, should be enforceable. It is the public policy of the State of Mississippi that no contract entered into by a cardholder, a medical cannabis establishment, or a medical cannabis establishment agent, or by a person who allows property to be used for activities that are exempt from state criminal penalties by this act, shall be unenforceable on the basis that activities related to cannabis are prohibited by federal law.
(19) Before sale, food or drink that has been combined with usable cannabis or cannabis products shall not exceed twenty milligrams (20mg) of active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per portion and shall be physically demarked. If portions of the food or drink cannot be physically demarked, the entirety of the food or drink that has been combined with usable cannabis or cannabis products shall not contain more than twenty milligrams (20mg) of active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
SECTION 4. Limitations. This act does not authorize any person to engage in, and does not prevent the imposition of any civil, criminal, or other penalties for engaging in, the following conduct:
(a) Undertaking any task under the influence of cannabis, when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice;
(b) Possessing cannabis or otherwise engaging in the medical use of cannabis in any correctional facility, unless the correctional facility has elected to allow the cardholder to engage in the use of medical cannabis;
(c) Smoking cannabis in a public place; or
(d) Operating, navigating, or being in actual physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, train, or motorboat while under the influence of cannabis.
SECTION 5. Discrimination prohibited. (1) No school or landlord may refuse to enroll or lease to and may not otherwise penalize a person solely for the person's status as a cardholder, unless failing to do so would violate federal law or regulations or cause the school or landlord to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
(2) For the purposes of medical care, including organ and tissue transplants, a registered qualifying patient's use of cannabis according to this act is considered the equivalent of the authorized use of any other medication used at the discretion of a practitioner and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a qualifying patient from needed medical care.
(3) A person shall not be denied custody of or visitation rights or parenting time with a minor solely for the person's status as a cardholder, and there shall be no presumption of neglect or child endangerment for conduct allowed under this act, unless the person's behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to the safety of the minor as established by clear and convincing evidence.
(4) The rights provided by this section do not apply to the extent that they conflict with an employer's obligations under federal law or regulations or to the extent that they would disqualify an employer from a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
(5) No employer is required to allow the ingestion of cannabis in any workplace or to allow any employee to work while under the influence of cannabis. A registered qualifying patient shall not be considered to be under the influence of cannabis solely because of the presence of metabolites or components of cannabis that appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment.
(6) No school, landlord, or employer may be penalized or denied any benefit under state law for enrolling, leasing to, or employing a cardholder.
(7) Facilities such as schools and daycares, and temporary care providers shall be allowed to administer medical cannabis as in the same manner as with medical prescriptions.
SECTION 6. Addition of debilitating medical conditions. Any resident of Mississippi may petition the department to add serious medical conditions or their treatments to the list of debilitating medical conditions listed in Section 2 of this act. The department shall consider petitions in accordance with its regulations, including public notice and hearing. The department shall approve or deny a petition within sixty (60) days of its submission. The approval or denial of any petition is a final decision of the department, subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested in the circuit court.
SECTION 7. Acts not required and acts not prohibited. (1) Nothing in this act requires a government medical assistance program or private insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of cannabis.
(2) Nothing in this act prohibits an employer from disciplining an employee for ingesting cannabis in the workplace or for working while under the influence of cannabis.
SECTION 8. Facility restrictions. (1) Any nursing care institution, hospice, assisted living center, assisted living facility, assisted living home, residential care institution, adult day health care facility, or adult foster care home may adopt reasonable restrictions on the use of cannabis by their residents or persons receiving inpatient services, including:
(a) That the facility will not store or maintain the patient's supply of cannabis;
(b) That the facility, caregivers, or hospice agencies serving the facility's residents are not responsible for providing the cannabis for qualifying patients;
(c) That cannabis be consumed only in a place specified by the facility.
(2) Nothing in this section requires a facility listed in subsection (1) of this section to adopt restrictions on the medical use of cannabis.
(3) A facility listed in subsection (1) of this section may not unreasonably limit a registered qualifying patient's access to or use of cannabis authorized under this act unless failing to do so would cause the facility to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
SECTION 9. Issuance and denial of registry identification cards. (1) No later than sixty (60) days after the effective date of this act, the department shall begin issuing registry identification cards to qualifying patients who submit the following:
(a) Medical records evidencing a diagnosis of a debilitating medical condition or a written certification issued by a practitioner within ninety (90) days immediately preceding the date of the application;
(b) The application or renewal fee;
(c) The name, address, and date of birth of the qualifying patient, except that if the applicant is homeless, no address is required;
(d) The name, address, and telephone number of the qualifying patient's practitioner issuing the written certification;
(e) The name, address, and date of birth of the designated caregiver, or designated caregivers, chosen by the qualifying patient; and
(f) If more than one (1) designated caregiver is designated at any given time, documentation demonstrating that a greater number of designated caregivers is needed due to the patient's age or medical condition.
(2) If the qualifying patient is unable to submit the information required by subsection (1) of this section due to the person's age or medical condition, the person responsible for making medical decisions for the qualifying patient may do so on behalf of the qualifying patient.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the department shall:
(a) Verify the information contained in an application or renewal submitted under this act and approve or deny an application or renewal within thirty (30) days of receiving a completed application or renewal application;
(b) Issue registry identification cards to a qualifying patient and his or her designated caregiver(s), if any, within five (5) days of approving the application or renewal. A designated caregiver must have a registry identification card for each of his or her qualifying patients; and
(c) Enter the registry identification number of the dispensary, dispensaries, pharmacy or pharmacies the patient designates into the verification system.
(4) The department may conduct a background check of the prospective designated caregiver in order to carry out the provisions of this section.
(5) The department shall not issue a registry identification card to a qualifying patient who is younger than eighteen (18) years of age unless:
(a) The qualifying patient's practitioner has explained the potential risks and benefits of the use of medical cannabis to the custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the qualifying patient; and
(b) The custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions for the qualifying patient consents in writing to:
(i) Allow the qualifying patient's use of medical cannabis;
(ii) Serve as the qualifying patient's designated caregiver; and
(iii) Control the acquisition of the medical cannabis, the dosage, and the frequency of the use of medical cannabis by the qualifying patient.
(6) The department may deny an application or renewal of a qualifying patient's registry identification card only if the applicant:
(a) Did not provide the required information or materials;
(b) Previously had a registry identification card revoked; or
(c) Provided false information.
(7) The department may deny an application or renewal for a designated caregiver chosen by a qualifying patient whose registry identification card was granted only if:
(a) The designated caregiver does not meet the definition under Section 2 of this act;
(b) The applicant did not provide the information required;
(c) The designated caregiver previously had a registry identification card revoked; or
(d) The applicant or the designated caregiver provided false information.
(8) The department shall give written notice to the qualifying patient of the reason for denying a registry identification card to the qualifying patient or to the qualifying patient's designated caregiver.
(9) Denial of an application or renewal is considered a final department action, subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested in the circuit court.
(10) Until a qualifying patient who has submitted an application to the department receives a registry identification card or a rejection, a copy of the individual's application, written certification, and proof that the application was submitted to the department shall be deemed a registry identification card.
(11) Until a designated caregiver whose qualifying patient has submitted an application and the required fees receives a registry identification card or a rejection, a copy of the qualifying patient's application, written certification, and proof that the application was submitted to the department shall be deemed a registry identification card.
SECTION 10. Registry identification cards. (1) Registry identification cards must contain all of the following:
(a) The name of the cardholder;
(b) A designation of whether the cardholder is a qualifying patient or a designated caregiver;
(c) The date of issuance and expiration date of the registry identification card;
(d) A random ten-digit alphanumeric identification number, containing at least four (4) numbers and at least four (4) letters, that is unique to the cardholder;
(e) If the cardholder is a designated caregiver, the random identification number of the qualifying patient the designated caregiver will assist;
(f) A photograph of the cardholder, if the department's regulations require one; and
(g) The phone number or internet address where the card can be verified.
(2) Except as provided in this section, the expiration date shall be one (1) year after the date of issuance.
(3) If the practitioner stated in the written certification that the qualifying patient would benefit from cannabis until a specified earlier date, then the registry identification card shall expire on that date.
SECTION 11. Temporary registry identification cards. (1) Until sixty (60) days after the department makes applications available, a valid, written certification issued within the previous year shall be deemed a registry identification card for a qualifying patient.
(2) Until sixty (60) days after the department makes applications available, the following shall be deemed a designated caregiver registry identification card:
(a) A copy of a qualifying patient's valid written certification issued within the previous year; and
(b) A signed affidavit attesting that the person has significant responsibility for managing the well-being of the patient and that the person has been chosen to assist the qualifying patient.
SECTION 12. Verification system. (1) The department shall maintain a confidential list of the persons to whom the department has issued registry identification cards and their addresses, phone numbers, and registry identification numbers. This confidential list shall not be combined or linked in any manner with any other list or database, nor shall it be used for any purpose not provided for in this act.
(2) All records containing the identity of qualifying patients, caregivers or practitioners shall be confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act of any related statute, rule or regulation pertaining to public disclosure of records. Within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act, the department shall establish a secure phone or internet-based verification system. The verification system must allow law enforcement personnel and medical cannabis establishments to enter a registry identification number to determine whether the number corresponds with a current, valid registry identification card. The system may disclose only:
(a) Whether the identification card is valid;
(b) The name of the cardholder;
(c) Whether the cardholder is a qualifying patient or a designated caregiver;
(d) The registry identification number of any affiliated registered qualifying patient; and
(e) The registry identification of the qualifying patient's dispensary, dispensaries, pharmacy or pharmacies, if any.
SECTION 13. Notifications to department and responses. (1) The following notifications and department responses are required:
(a) A registered qualifying patient shall notify the department of any change in his or her name or address, or if the registered qualifying patient ceases to have his or her debilitating medical condition, within twenty (20) days of the change.
(b) A registered designated caregiver shall notify the department of any change in his or her name or address, or if the designated caregiver becomes aware the qualifying patient passed away, within twenty (20) days of the change.
(c) Before a registered qualifying patient changes his or her designated caregiver, the qualifying patient must notify the department.
(d) When a registered qualifying patient changes his or her preference as to the cultivation-processing facility that may cultivate medical cannabis unique to specific needs for the qualifying patient, the qualifying patient must notify the department.
(e) If a cardholder loses his or her registry identification card, he or she shall notify the department within ten (10) days of becoming aware that the card has been lost.
(f) Before a registered qualifying patient changes his or her designated dispensary, the qualifying patient must notify the department.
(2) Each notification that a registered qualifying patient is required to make shall instead be made by the patient's designated caregiver if the qualifying patient is unable to make the notification due to his or her age or medical condition.
(3) When a cardholder notifies the department of items listed in subsection (1) of this section but remains eligible under this act, the department shall issue the cardholder a new registry identification card with a new random ten-digit alphanumeric identification number within ten (10) days of receiving the updated information. If the person notifying the department is a registered qualifying patient, the department shall also issue his or her registered designated caregiver, if any, a new registry identification card within ten (10) days of receiving the updated information.
(4) If the registered qualifying patient's certifying practitioner notifies the department in writing that either the registered qualifying patient has ceased to suffer from a debilitating medical condition or that the practitioner no longer believes the patient would receive medical or palliative benefit from the use of medical cannabis, the card shall become null and void. However, the registered qualifying patient has fifteen (15) days to return any unused cannabis to the dispensing dispensary or pharmacy.
(5) A medical cannabis establishment shall notify the department within one (1) business day of any theft or loss of cannabis.
SECTION 14. Affirmative defense and dismissal for medical cannabis. (1) Except as provided in Section 4 of this act and this section, a person may assert the medical purpose for using cannabis as a defense to any prosecution involving cannabis, and such defense shall be presumed valid where the evidence shows that:
(a) A practitioner has stated that, in the practitioner's professional opinion, after having completed a full assessment of the person's medical history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship, the patient has a debilitating medical condition and the potential benefits of using medical cannabis would likely outweigh the health risks for the person;
(b) The person was in possession of no more than the allowable amount of cannabis;
(c) The person was engaged in the acquisition, possession, use, or transportation of cannabis, paraphernalia, or both, relating to the administration of cannabis to treat or alleviate the individual's debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the individual's debilitating medical condition.
(2) The defense and motion to dismiss shall not prevail if the prosecution proves that:
(a) The person had a registry identification card revoked for misconduct; or
(b) The purposes for the possession of cannabis were not solely for palliative or medical use by the individual with a debilitating medical condition who raised the defense.
(3) An individual is not required to possess a registry identification card to raise the affirmative defense set forth in this section.
(4) If an individual demonstrates the individual's medical purpose for using cannabis pursuant to this section, except as provided in Section 4 of this act, the individual shall not be subject to the following for the individual's use of cannabis for medical purposes:
(a) Disciplinary action by an occupational or professional licensing board or bureau; or
(b) Forfeiture of any interest in or right to any property other than cannabis.
SECTION 15. Licensing of medical cannabis establishments. (1) MDAC shall issue licenses for cultivation-processing facilities. MDAC shall issue at least one (1) dispensary license for each county in which there is an application.
(2) The cultivation-processing facility license application fee shall be a nonrefundable fee of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), and the initial medical cannabis dispensary license fee shall be a nonrefundable fee of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00). Each cultivation-processing facility shall be subject to an annual license renewal fee of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). Each medical cannabis dispensary shall be subject to an annual license renewal fee of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).
(3) Upon the passage of this act, MDAC shall begin accepting applications for licenses to operate a cultivation-processing facility and dispensaries, and MDAC shall award the licenses set forth in this subsection (2) of this section.
(4) No individual shall have an economic interest in more than one (1) cultivation-processing license and more than five (5) dispensary licenses.
(5) A dispensary shall appoint a pharmacist consultant who is a pharmacist licensed with the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy.
(6) Upon the passage of this act, MDAC shall begin accepting applications for prospective medical cannabis establishments.
(7) Minimum qualifications for applicants for a cultivation-processing facility and/or dispensary license(s) are as follows:
(a) An individual applicant for a medical cannabis cultivation facility or medical cannabis dispensary license shall be a natural person who:
(i) Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
(ii) Is a current resident of the State of Mississippi and has been a resident for five (5) consecutive years prior to the date of application as determined by this section;
(iii) Has not previously held a license for a cultivation-processing facility or dispensary that has been revoked;
(iv) Has no ownership in any other medical cannabis cultivation-processing facility or more than five (5) dispensaries in the State of Mississippi;
(v) Has not been convicted of a felony offense;
(vi) If possessing a professional license, that the license is in good standing; and
(vii) Has no outstanding tax delinquencies owed to the State of Mississippi.
(b) If the applicant is applying on behalf of an entity, in addition to paragraph (a) of this subsection, the individual applicant shall:
(i) Be legally authorized to submit an application on behalf of the entity;
(ii) Serve as the primary point of contact with MDAC;
(iii) Submit sufficient proof that:
1. The entity has no owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who is under the age of twenty-one (21);
2. At least sixty percent (60%) of the equity ownership interests in the entity are held by individuals who have been residents of the State of Mississippi for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to the application date and any attempt to avoid this provision may result in denial of an application and revocation of a license;
3. The entity has at least one (1) owner who is an African American or one (1) owner who is a member of any other minority group as defined herein;
4. The entity has no owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who has previously been an owner of a dispensary or cultivation-processing facility that has had its license revoked;
5. The entity has no owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who has ownership in any other medical cannabis cultivation facility or more than five (5) medical cannabis dispensaries in the State of Mississippi;
6. The entity has no owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who has been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense;
7. If an owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who has or had a professional license, that the license is in good standing;
8. The entity has no owner, board member, officer, or anyone with an economic interest in the entity who owes delinquent taxes to the State of Mississippi; and
9. The entity has owners with experience in managing cash and experience in operating regulated businesses in the State of Mississippi within the last ten (10) years. Any owner who violates this section shall be redeemed by the other owners or entities and shall relinquish all ownership.
(iv) Applicants for a cultivation-processing facility license shall provide proof of assets or a surety bond in the amount and proof of an amount in liquid assets as determined by MDAC; and applicants for a dispensary license shall provide proof of assets or a surety bond in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) and proof of an amount in liquid assets as determined by MDAC.
(v) For purposes of this section, it shall be sufficient to prove Mississippi residency for the individual(s) to submit one (1) of the following source documents:
1. Mississippi Tax Return Form 80-105 or Form 80-205 for each of the five (5) years preceding the application without schedules, worksheets, or attachments, and redacted to remove all financial information and all but the last four (4) digits of the individual's social security number for the five (5) years preceding the application;
2. Evidence of voter registration for the five (5) years preceding the application;
3. Ownership, lease, or rental documents for place of primary domicile for the five (5) years preceding the application;
4. Billing statements, including utility bills for the five (5) years preceding the application; or
5. Vehicle registration for the five (5) years preceding the application.
(8) Ownership in a medical cannabis cultivation-processing facility license or a dispensary license or investment in a business that supports or benefits from such a license shall not disqualify or otherwise negatively impact the license or finding of suitability of such owner who is otherwise engaged in any other form of business operation in the state, should such business require the owner to hold a license or be found suitable under state law.
(9) The number of test facilities, pharmacies, hospitals, and research facilities shall not be limited. MDAC shall begin accepting and processing applications under this subsection upon the passage of this act. All test facilities, pharmacies, hospitals and research facilities shall be subject to an application fee of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), and an annual license renewal fee of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). No later than sixty (60) days after receiving an application for any medical cannabis establishment other than a cultivation processing facility or dispensary, MDAC shall register the prospective medical cannabis establishment and issue a registration certificate and a random ten-digit alphanumeric identification number if all of the conditions in Section 17(2) of this act are satisfied.
(10) All business or state entities applying for registration as a medical cannabis establishment must meet all the requirements specified in Section 17(2) of this act.
(11) A prospective medical cannabis establishment shall submit all of the following:
(a) An application, including:
(i) The legal name of the prospective medical cannabis establishment;
(ii) The physical address of the prospective medical cannabis establishment that is not within two thousand (2,000) feet of a public or private school, church in which regular services are held, or daycare existing before the date of the medical cannabis establishment application;
(iii) The name of each principal officer and board member of the proposed medical cannabis establishment; and
(iv) Any additional information requested by MDAC.
(b) Operating procedures consistent with rules for oversight of the proposed medical cannabis establishment, including procedures to ensure accurate recordkeeping and adequate security measures.
(c) If the city or county where the proposed medical cannabis establishment would be located has enacted zoning restrictions, a sworn statement certifying that the proposed medical cannabis establishment is in compliance with the restrictions.
(d) If the city or county where the proposed medical cannabis establishment requires a local registration, license, or permit, a copy of the registration, license, or permit.
(e) Verification that none of the principal officers or board members has served as a principal officer or board member for a medical cannabis establishment that has had its registration certificate revoked.
(f) Verification that none of the principal officers or board members is under twenty-one (21) years of age.
(12) MDAC shall issue a renewal registration certificate within ten (10) days of receipt of the prescribed renewal application and renewal fee from a medical cannabis establishment if its registration certificate is not under suspension and has not been revoked.
(13) A cultivation-processing facility shall collect and remit a special privilege tax of four percent (4%) from the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from each sale of medical cannabis on forms and in a manner specified by the Commissioner of Revenue. A dispensary shall collect and remit a special privilege tax of ten percent (10%) from the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from each sale of medical cannabis on forms and in a manner specified by the Commissioner of Revenue.
(14) No county or municipality shall impose a tax on the sale of medical cannabis or on any cannabis facilities.
SECTION 16. Local ordinances. (1) A local government may enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this act, or with regulations enacted under this act, governing the time, place, and manner of medical cannabis establishment operations in the locality. A local government may establish penalties for violation of an ordinance or regulations governing the time, place, and manner of a medical cannabis establishment that may operate in the locality.
(2) No local government may prohibit dispensaries, either expressly or through the enactment of ordinances or regulations that make their operation impracticable in the jurisdiction.
(3) A local government may require a medical cannabis establishment to obtain a local license, permit, or registration to operate, and may charge a normal fee for the local license, permit, or registration.
(4) A local government may not impose a tax on the sale of medical cannabis or on cannabis establishments.
SECTION 17. Requirements, prohibitions and penalties. (1) Medical cannabis establishments shall conduct a background check into the criminal history of every person seeking to become a principal officer, board member, agent, volunteer, or employee before the person begins working at the medical cannabis establishment.
(2) A medical cannabis establishment may not employ any person who:
(a) Was convicted of a disqualifying felony offense; or
(b) Is under twenty-one (21) years of age.
(3) The operating documents of a medical cannabis establishment must include procedures for the oversight of the medical cannabis establishment and procedures to ensure accurate recordkeeping.
(4) A medical cannabis establishment shall implement appropriate security measures designed to deter and prevent the theft of cannabis and unauthorized entrance into areas containing cannabis.
(5) Each cultivation-processing facility and dispensary shall provide a reliable and ongoing supply of medical cannabis needed for the registry program.
(6) All cultivation, harvesting, manufacture, and packaging of cannabis must take place in a secure facility with a physical address provided to MDAC during the registration process. The secure facility may only be accessed by agents of the medical cannabis establishment, emergency personnel, and adults who are twenty-one (21) years of age and older and who are accompanied by medical cannabis establishment agents.
(7) No medical cannabis establishment other than a cannabis cultivation-processing facility or research facility may produce cannabis concentrates, cannabis extractions, or other cannabis products.
(8) A medical cannabis establishment may not share office space with or refer patients to a practitioner.
(9) Medical cannabis establishments are subject to inspection by MDAC during business hours.
(10) Before cannabis may be dispensed to a cardholder, a dispensary agent must:
(a) Make a diligent effort to verify that the registry identification card or registration presented to the dispensary or pharmacy is valid;
(b) Make a diligent effort to verify that the person presenting the documentation is the person identified on the document presented to the dispensary or pharmacy agent;
(c) Not believe that the amount dispensed would cause the person to possess more than the allowable amount of cannabis; and
(d) Make a diligent effort to verify that the dispensary or pharmacy is the current dispensary or pharmacy that was designated by the cardholder.
(11) A dispensary or pharmacy may not dispense more than the allowable amount of cannabis to a nonresident cardholder or a registered qualifying patient, directly or via a designated caregiver in any twenty-four-day period. Dispensaries and pharmacies shall ensure compliance with this limitation by maintaining internal, confidential records that include records specifying how much cannabis is being dispensed to the nonresident cardholder or registered qualifying patient and whether it was dispensed directly to a registered qualifying patient or to the designated caregiver.
(12) A medical cannabis establishment agent shall not issue a written certification.
SECTION 18. Agencies to issue regulations. (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department, MDAC, and the Department of Revenue jointly work together to accomplish the purposes of this act. Upon the passage of this act, the department, MDAC, and the Department of Revenue shall each establish and promulgate rules and regulations:
(a) Governing the manner in which the department shall consider petitions from the public to add debilitating medical conditions or treatments to the list of debilitating medical conditions set forth in Section 2 of this act, including public notice of and opportunities to comment in public hearings on the petitions;
(b) Establishing the form and content of registration and renewal applications submitted under this act;
(c) Governing the manner in which it shall consider applications for and renewals of registry identification cards, which may include creating a standardized written certification form;
(d) Governing medical cannabis establishments with the goals of ensuring the health and safety of qualifying patients and preventing diversion and theft without imposing an undue burden or compromising the confidentiality of cardholders, including:
(i) Oversight requirements;
(ii) Recordkeeping requirements;
(iii) Qualifications that are directly and demonstrably related to the operation of cannabis establishments;
(iv) Security requirements, including lighting, physical security, and alarm requirements;
(v) Health and safety regulations, including restrictions on the use of pesticides that are injurious to human health;
(vi) Standards for the manufacture of cannabis products and the indoor cultivation of cannabis by cultivation-processing facilities;
(vii) Requirements for the transportation and storage of cannabis by medical cannabis establishments;
(viii) Employment and training requirements, including requiring that each medical cannabis establishment create an identification badge for each agent;
(ix) Standards for the safe manufacture of medical cannabis products, including extracts and concentrates;
(x) Restrictions on the advertising, signage, and display of medical cannabis, provided that the restrictions may not prevent appropriate signs on the property of a dispensary or pharmacy, listings in business directories, including phone books, listings in cannabis-related or medical publications, or the sponsorship of health or not-for-profit charity or advocacy events;
(xi) Requirements and procedures for the safe and accurate packaging and labeling of medical cannabis;
(xii) Standards for testing facilities, including requirements for equipment and qualifications for personnel;
(xiii) Protocol development for the safe delivery of cannabis from dispensaries to cardholders; and
(xiv) Reasonable requirements to ensure the applicant has sufficient property or capital to operate the applicant's proposed medical cannabis establishment;
(xv) Procedures for suspending or terminating the registration certificates or registry identification cards of cardholders and medical cannabis establishments that commit multiple or serious violations of the provisions of this act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to this section;
(xvi) Procedures for establishing a seed to sale tracking a program;
(xvii) Requirements for labeling cannabis and cannabis products, including requiring cannabis product labels to include the following:
1. The length of time it typically takes for the product to take effect;
2. Disclosure of ingredients and possible allergens;
3. A nutritional fact panel; and
4. For edible cannabis products, when practicable, a standard symbol indicating that the product contains cannabis;
(xviii) Procedures for the registration of nonresident cardholders and their designation of no more than two (2) dispensaries, which must require the submission of:
1. A practitioner's statement confirming that the patient has a debilitating medical condition; and
2. Documentation demonstrating that the nonresident cardholder is allowed to possess cannabis or cannabis preparations in the jurisdiction where he or she resides;
(xix) The amount of cannabis products, including the amount of concentrated cannabis, each cardholder and nonresident cardholder can possess;
(xx) Reasonable application and renewal fees for registry identification cards and registration certificates, according to the following:
1. The total fees collected must generate revenues sufficient to offset all expenses of implementing and administering this act;
2. The department may establish a sliding scale of patient application and renewal fees based upon a qualifying patient's household income provided that the initial fee schedule shall be set as follows:
a. The patient medical cannabis card application fee shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00);
b. The caregiver medical cannabis card application fee shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00);
c. The caregiver criminal background fee shall be Thirty-Seven Dollars ($37.00);
d. The fee for a renewal of card shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00);
e. The fee for a visiting patient shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00)
3. The department may accept donations from private sources to reduce application and renewal fees;
4. The department may adjust the fee schedule at its discretion;
5. Fees collected by the department on applications, renewals, and the fees in this item shall be used to manage the program; and
(2) No later than one (1) year from the implementation of this article, and every one (1) year thereafter, the department, MDAC, and the Department of Revenue shall provide to the Legislature a comprehensive public report of the operation of this act. The Department of Revenue shall also provide quarterly reports for all sales of medical cannabis sold by dispensaries to qualified patients.
(4) The price of medical cannabis shall not be set by law or regulation.
SECTION 19. Violations. (1) A cardholder or medical cannabis establishment that willfully fails to provide a notice required by Section 13 of this act is guilty of a civil offense, punishable by a fine of no more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), which may be assessed and collected by the licensing agency.
(2) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a medical cannabis establishment or an agent of a medical cannabis establishment that intentionally sells or otherwise transfers cannabis in exchange for anything of value to a person other than a cardholder, a nonresident cardholder, or to a medical cannabis establishment or its agent is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or both. A person convicted under this subsection may not continue to be affiliated with the medical cannabis establishment and is disqualified from further participation under this act.
(3) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a cardholder or nonresident cardholder who intentionally sells or otherwise transfers cannabis in exchange for anything of value to a person other than a cardholder or to a medical cannabis establishment or its agent is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or by commitment to the Department of Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or both.
(4) A person who intentionally makes a false statement to a law enforcement official about any fact or circumstance relating to the medical use of cannabis to avoid arrest or prosecution is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days, or both. This penalty is in addition to any other penalties that may apply for making a false statement or for the possession, cultivation, or sale of cannabis not protected by this act. If a person convicted of violating this subsection is a cardholder, the person is disqualified from further participation under this act.
(5) A person who knowingly submits false records or documentation to certify a medical cannabis establishment under this act is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or by commitment to the Department of Corrections for not more than two (2) years, or both.
(6) A practitioner who knowingly refers patients to a medical cannabis establishment or to a designated caregiver, who advertises in a medical cannabis establishment, or who issues written certifications while holding a financial interest in a medical cannabis establishment, is guilty of a civil offense for every false certification and shall be fined up to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) by the department.
(7) Any person, including an employee or official of an agency or local government, who breaches the confidentiality of information obtained under this act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty (180) days in the county jail, or both.
(8) No person, other than a cultivation-processing facility or its agents complying with this act and regulations promulgated under it, may extract compounds from cannabis using solvents other than water, glycerin, propylene glycol, vegetable oil, or food-grade ethanol (ethyl alcohol). No person may extract compounds from cannabis using ethanol in the presence or vicinity of open flame. It shall be a felony punishable by up to three (3) years in prison and a Ten Thousand Dollar ($10,000.00) fine for any person to violate this subsection.
(9) A medical cannabis establishment is guilty of a civil offense for any violation of this act or the regulations issued under this act where no penalty has been specified, and shall be fined not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) for each such violation by its licensing agency. This penalty is in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
SECTION 20. Suspension and revocation. (1) The licensing agency may on its own motion or on complaint, after investigation and opportunity for a public hearing at which the medical cannabis establishment has been afforded an opportunity to be heard, suspend or revoke a registration certificate for multiple negligent or knowing violations or for a serious and knowing violation of this act or any rules under this act by the registrant or any of its agents.
(2) The licensing agency shall provide notice of suspension, revocation, fine, or other sanction, as well as the required notice of the hearing, by mailing or personal delivery the same in writing by certified mail, signature required, to the medical cannabis establishment at the address on the registration certificate. A suspension shall not be for a longer period than six (6) months.
(3) A medical cannabis establishment may continue to possess and cultivate cannabis, as the case may be, during a suspension, but it may not dispense, transfer, or sell cannabis.
(4) The department shall immediately revoke the registry identification card of any cardholder who sells cannabis to a person who is not allowed to possess cannabis for medical purposes under this act. The cardholder shall be disqualified from further participation under this act.
(5) The department may revoke the registry identification card of any cardholder who knowingly commits multiple unintentional violations or a serious knowing violation of this act.
(6) Revocation is a final decision of the applicable agency subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested in the circuit court.
SECTION 21. Confidentiality. (1) Data in registration applications and supporting data submitted by qualifying patients, designated caregivers and medical cannabis establishments, nonresident cardholders, pharmacies, hospitals and medical cannabis establishments, including data on designated caregivers and practitioners, are private data on individuals that is confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, Sections 25-61-1 through 25-61-17.
(2) Data kept or maintained by an agency may not be used for any purpose not provided for in this act and may not be combined or linked in any manner with any other list or database.
(3) Data kept or maintained by an agency may be disclosed as necessary for:
(a) The verification of registration certificates and registry identification cards under Section 12 of this act;
(b) Submission of the annual report required by Section 24 of this act;
(c) Notification of state or local law enforcement of apparent criminal violations of this act;
(d) Notification of state and local law enforcement about falsified or fraudulent information submitted for purposes of obtaining or renewing a registry identification card; or
(e) Notification of the State Board of Medical Licensure if there is reason to believe that a practitioner provided a written certification in violation of this act, or if the department has reason to believe the practitioner otherwise violated the standard of care for evaluating medical conditions.
(4) Any information kept or maintained by medical cannabis establishments must identify cardholders by their registry identification numbers and must not contain names or other personally identifying information.
(5) At the cardholder's request, the department may confirm the cardholder's status as a registered qualifying patient or a registered designated caregiver to a third party, such as a landlord, school, medical professional, or court.
(6) Any agency hard drives or other data-recording media that are no longer in use and that contain cardholder information shall be destroyed.
SECTION 22. Business expenses, deductions. Notwithstanding any federal tax law to the contrary, in computing net income for medical cannabis establishments, there shall be allowed as a deduction from state taxes all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business as a medical cannabis establishment, including reasonable allowance for salaries or other compensation for personal services actually rendered.
SECTION 23. Annual reports. (1) The department shall report every year to the Legislature on the number of applications for registry identification cards received, the number of qualifying patients and designated caregivers approved, and the number of registry identification cards revoked. The department shall not include identifying information on qualifying patients, designated caregivers, or practitioners in the report.
(2) The Department of Revenue shall report every year to the Legislature on the number of each type of medical cannabis establishment that is registered, and the expenses incurred and revenues generated from the medical cannabis program.
SECTION 24. Not applicable to CBD oil. This act does not apply to or supersede any of the provisions of Section 41-29-136.
SECTION 25. The following shall be codified as Section 27-65-28, Mississippi Code of 1972:
27-65-28. Upon every person engaging or continuing within this state in the business of selling cannabis products, the sales of which are legal under the provisions of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, there is hereby levied, assessed and shall be collected a tax equal to ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of the retail sales of the business.
SECTION 26. There is hereby imposed, levied and assessed an excise tax on each person or dealer in medical cannabis, upon the sale, use, consumption, handling or distribution in the State of Mississippi, at the rate of four percent (4%) of the manufacturer's list price. This tax is levied upon the sale, use, gift, possession or consumption of medical cannabis in this state, and the impact of the tax levied by this section is declared to be on the vendee, user, consumer or possessor of tobacco in this state; and when this tax is paid by any other person, such payment shall be considered as an advance payment and shall thereafter be added to the price of the medical cannabis and recovered from the ultimate consumer or user.
SECTION 27. (1) There is hereby created a Workforce and College Opportunity Scholarship Fund in the State Treasury. Revenue generated from the ten percent (10%) retail sales tax imposed by Section 27-65-28, after the distribution to municipalities provided for in Section 27-65-75(1)(a), and from the four percent (4%) excise tax on the sale of cannabis products in the state shall be deposited into the fund by the State Fiscal Officer for the purpose of providing scholarships to students in Mississippi, and providing funds to Early Childhood Learning Collaboratives and a Standardized Dual Enrollment Program.
(2) The monies in the Workforce and College Opportunity Scholarship Fund shall be allocated as follows:
(a) The first twenty-five percent (25%) of revenue generated shall be distributed to the State Department of Education for the state share for Early Learning Collaboratives as established in Section 37-21-51;
(b) The next twenty-five percent (25%) of revenue generated shall be distributed to the State Department of Education to provide funding for a standardized dual enrollment program; and
(c) Remaining funds shall be allocated to the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board as established in Section 37-106-9 to create a "last-dollar" scholarship program for community college students, university students, academic or career and technical, with the goal of providing tuition, room and board, books and materials to Mississippi students. The Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board shall present regulations for administering the scholarship program to the Mississippi Higher for Education Corporation Board for final approval. Participating students may not receive more than Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) per year in scholarship funds. Participating students must complete eight (8) hours of community service for each semester during which they receive scholarship funds.
SECTION 28. Section 41-29-125, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-125. (1) The State Board of Pharmacy may promulgate rules and regulations relating to the registration and control of the manufacture, distribution and dispensing of controlled substances within this state and the distribution and dispensing of controlled substances into this state from an out-of-state location.
(a) Every person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses any controlled substance within this state or who distributes or dispenses any controlled substance into this state from an out-of-state location, or who proposes to engage in the manufacture, distribution or dispensing of any controlled substance within this state or the distribution or dispensing of any controlled substance into this state from an out-of-state location, must obtain a registration issued by the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing or the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine, as appropriate, in accordance with its rules and the law of this state. Such registration shall be obtained annually or biennially, as specified by the issuing board, and a reasonable fee may be charged by the issuing board for such registration.
(b) Persons registered by the State Board of Pharmacy, with the consent of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing or the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine to manufacture, distribute, dispense or conduct research with controlled substances may possess, manufacture, distribute, dispense or conduct research with those substances to the extent authorized by their registration and in conformity with the other provisions of this article.
(c) The following persons need not register and may lawfully possess controlled substances under this article:
(1) An agent or employee of any registered manufacturer, distributor or dispenser of any controlled substance if he is acting in the usual course of his business or employment;
(2) A common or contract carrier or warehouse, or an employee thereof, whose possession of any controlled substance is in the usual course of business or employment;
(3) An ultimate user or a person in possession of any controlled substance pursuant to a valid prescription or in lawful possession of a Schedule V substance as defined in Section 41-29-121.
(d) The State Board of Pharmacy may waive by rule the requirement for registration of certain manufacturers, distributors or dispensers if it finds it consistent with the public health and safety.
(e) A separate registration is required at each principal place of business or professional practice where an applicant within the state manufactures, distributes or dispenses controlled substances and for each principal place of business or professional practice located out-of-state from which controlled substances are distributed or dispensed into the state.
(f) The State Board of Pharmacy, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing and the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine may inspect the establishment of a registrant or applicant for registration in accordance with the regulations of these agencies as approved by the board.
(2) Whenever a pharmacy ships, mails or delivers any Schedule II controlled substance listed in Section 41-29-115 to a private residence in this state, the pharmacy shall arrange with the entity that will actually deliver the controlled substance to a recipient in this state that the entity will: (a) deliver the controlled substance only to a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older; and (b) obtain the signature of that person before delivering the controlled substance. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to a pharmacy serving a nursing facility or to a pharmacy owned and/or operated by a hospital, nursing facility or clinic to which the general public does not have access to purchase pharmaceuticals on a retail basis.
(3) This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 29. Section 41-29-127, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-127. (a) The State Board of Pharmacy shall register an applicant to manufacture or distribute controlled substances included in Sections 41-29-113 through 41-29-121 unless it determines that the issuance of that registration would be inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the State Board of Pharmacy shall consider the following factors:
(1) Maintenance of effective controls against diversion of controlled substances into other than legitimate medical, scientific, or industrial channels;
(2) Compliance with applicable state and local law;
(3) Any convictions of the applicant under any federal and state laws relating to any controlled substance;
(4) Past experience in the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances and the existence in the applicant's establishment of effective controls against diversion;
(5) Furnishing by the applicant of false or fraudulent material in any application filed under this article;
(6) Suspension or revocation of the applicant's federal registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances as authorized by federal law; and
(7) Any other factors relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
(b) Registration under subsection (a) does not entitle a registrant to manufacture and distribute controlled substances in Schedule I or II, as set out in Sections 41-29-113 and 41-29-115, other than those specified in the registration.
(c) Practitioners must be registered to dispense any controlled substances or to conduct research with controlled substances in Schedules II through V, as set out in Sections 41-29-115 through 41-29-121, if they are authorized to dispense or conduct research under the law of this state. The State Board of Pharmacy need not require separate registration under this section for practitioners engaging in research with nonnarcotic controlled substances in the said Schedules II through V where the registrant is already registered therein in another capacity. Practitioners registered under federal law to conduct research with Schedule I substances, as set out in Section 41-29-113, may conduct research with Schedule I substances within this state upon furnishing the State Board of Health evidence of that federal registration.
(d) Compliance by manufacturers and distributors with the provisions of the federal law respecting registration (excluding fees) entitles them to be registered under this article.
(e) This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 30. Section 41-29-136, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-136. (1) "CBD solution" means a pharmaceutical preparation consisting of processed cannabis plant extract in oil or other suitable vehicle.
(2) (a) CBD solution prepared from (i) cannabis plant extract that is provided by the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi under appropriate federal and state regulatory approvals, or (ii) cannabis extract from hemp produced pursuant to Sections 69-25-201 through 69-25-221, which is prepared and tested to meet compliance with regulatory specifications, may be dispensed by the Department of Pharmacy Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC Pharmacy) after mixing the extract with a suitable vehicle. The CBD solution may be prepared by the UMMC Pharmacy or by another pharmacy or laboratory in the state under appropriate federal and state regulatory approvals and registrations.
(b) The patient or the patient's parent, guardian or custodian must execute a hold-harmless agreement that releases from liability the state and any division, agency, institution or employee thereof involved in the research, cultivation, processing, formulating, dispensing, prescribing or administration of CBD solution obtained from entities authorized under this section to produce or possess cannabidiol for research under appropriate federal and state regulatory approvals and registrations.
(c) The National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at Mississippi State University are the only entities authorized to produce cannabis plants for cannabidiol research.
(d) Research of CBD solution under this section must comply with the provisions of Section 41-29-125 regarding lawful possession of controlled substances, of Section 41-29-137 regarding record-keeping requirements relative to the dispensing, use or administration of controlled substances, and of Section 41-29-133 regarding inventory requirements, insofar as they are applicable. Authorized entities may enter into public-private partnerships to facilitate research.
(3) (a) In a prosecution for the unlawful possession of marijuana under the laws of this state, it is an affirmative and complete defense to prosecution that:
(i) The defendant suffered from a debilitating epileptic condition or related illness and the use or possession of CBD solution was pursuant to the order of a physician as authorized under this section; or
(ii) The defendant is the parent, guardian or custodian of an individual who suffered from a debilitating epileptic condition or related illness and the use or possession of CBD solution was pursuant to the order of a physician as authorized under this section.
(b) An agency of this state or a political subdivision thereof, including any law enforcement agency, may not initiate proceedings to remove a child from the home based solely upon the possession or use of CBD solution by the child or parent, guardian or custodian of the child as authorized under this section.
(c) An employee of the state or any division, agency, institution thereof involved in the research, cultivation, processing, formulation, dispensing, prescribing or administration of CBD solution shall not be subject to prosecution for unlawful possession, use, distribution or prescription of marijuana under the laws of this state for activities arising from or related to the use of CBD solution in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with a debilitating epileptic condition.
(4) This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
( * * *5) This section shall be known as
"Harper Grace's Law."
( * * *6) This section shall stand repealed
from and after July 1, * * * 2025.
SECTION 31. Section 41-29-137, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-137. (a) (1) Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacy, to an ultimate user, no controlled substance in Schedule II, as set out in Section 41-29-115, may be dispensed without the written valid prescription of a practitioner. A practitioner shall keep a record of all controlled substances in Schedule I, II and III administered, dispensed or professionally used by him otherwise than by prescription.
(2) In emergency situations, as defined by rule of the State Board of Pharmacy, Schedule II drugs may be dispensed upon the oral valid prescription of a practitioner, reduced promptly to writing and filed by the pharmacy. Prescriptions shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of Section 41-29-133. No prescription for a Schedule II substance may be refilled unless renewed by prescription issued by a licensed medical doctor.
(b) Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacy, to an ultimate user, a controlled substance included in Schedule III or IV, as set out in Sections 41-29-117 and 41-29-119, shall not be dispensed without a written or oral valid prescription of a practitioner. The prescription shall not be filled or refilled more than six (6) months after the date thereof or be refilled more than five (5) times, unless renewed by the practitioner.
(c) A controlled substance included in Schedule V, as set out in Section 41-29-121, shall not be distributed or dispensed other than for a medical purpose.
(d) An optometrist certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents under Sections 73-19-153 through 73-19-165 shall be authorized to prescribe oral analgesic controlled substances in Schedule IV or V, as pertains to treatment and management of eye disease by written prescription only.
(e) Administration by injection of any pharmaceutical product authorized in this section is expressly prohibited except when dispensed directly by a practitioner other than a pharmacy.
(f) (1) For the purposes of this article, Title 73, Chapter 21, and Title 73, Chapter 25, Mississippi Code of 1972, as it pertains to prescriptions for controlled substances, a "valid prescription" means a prescription that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice by:
(A) A practitioner who has conducted at least one (1) in-person medical evaluation of the patient, except as otherwise authorized by Section 41-29-137.1 through June 30, 2021; or
(B) A covering practitioner.
(2) (A) "In-person medical evaluation" means a medical evaluation that is conducted with the patient in the physical presence of the practitioner, without regard to whether portions of the evaluation are conducted by other health professionals.
(B) "Covering practitioner" means a practitioner who conducts a medical evaluation other than an in-person medical evaluation at the request of a practitioner who has conducted at least one (1) in-person medical evaluation of the patient or an evaluation of the patient through the practice of telemedicine within the previous twenty-four (24) months and who is temporarily unavailable to conduct the evaluation of the patient.
(3) A prescription for a controlled substance based solely on a consumer's completion of an online medical questionnaire is not a valid prescription.
(4) Nothing in this subsection (f) shall apply to:
(A) A prescription issued by a practitioner engaged in the practice of telemedicine as authorized under state or federal law; or
(B) The dispensing or selling of a controlled substance pursuant to practices as determined by the United States Attorney General by regulation.
(g) This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 32. Section 41-29-139, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-139. (a) Transfer and possession with intent to transfer. Except as authorized by this article, it is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally:
(1) To sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense, a controlled substance; or
(2) To create, sell, barter, transfer, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to create, sell, barter, transfer, distribute or dispense, a counterfeit substance.
(b) Punishment for transfer and possession with intent to transfer. Except as otherwise provided in Section 41-29-142, any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be, if convicted, sentenced as follows:
(1) For controlled substances classified in Schedule I or II, as set out in Sections 41-29-113 and 41-29-115, other than marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids:
(A) If less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than eight (8) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.
(B) If two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10) grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.
(C) If ten (10) or more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years nor more than thirty (30) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.
(2) (A) For marijuana:
1. If thirty (30) grams or less, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both;
2. If more than thirty (30) grams but less than two hundred fifty (250) grams, by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;
3. If two hundred fifty (250) or more grams but less than five hundred (500) grams, by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than ten (10) years or a fine of not more than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), or both;
4. If five hundred (500) or more grams but less than one (1) kilogram, by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both.
(B) For synthetic cannabinoids:
1. If ten (10) grams or less, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both;
2. If more than ten (10) grams but less than twenty (20) grams, by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;
3. If twenty (20) or more grams but less than forty (40) grams, by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than ten (10) years or a fine of not more than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), or both;
4. If forty (40) or more grams but less than two hundred (200) grams, by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both.
(3) For controlled substances classified in Schedules III and IV, as set out in Sections 41-29-117 and 41-29-119:
(A) If less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;
(B) If two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10) grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than eight (8) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;
(C) If ten (10) or more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) years or a fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), or both;
(D) If thirty (30) or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units, but less than five hundred (500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.
(4) For controlled substances classified in Schedule V, as set out in Section 41-29-121:
(A) If less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;
(B) If two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10) grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both;
(C) If ten (10) or more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both;
(D) For thirty (30) or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units, but less than five hundred (500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.
(c) Simple possession. It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess any controlled substance unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by this article. The penalties for any violation of this subsection (c) with respect to a controlled substance classified in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V, as set out in Section 41-29-113, 41-29-115, 41-29-117, 41-29-119 or 41-29-121, including marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids, shall be based on dosage unit as defined herein or the weight of the controlled substance as set forth herein as appropriate:
"Dosage unit (d.u.)" means a tablet or capsule, or in the case of a liquid solution, one (1) milliliter. In the case of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) the term, "dosage unit" means a stamp, square, dot, microdot, tablet or capsule of a controlled substance.
For any controlled substance that does not fall within the definition of the term "dosage unit," the penalties shall be based upon the weight of the controlled substance.
The weight set forth refers to the entire weight of any mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of the controlled substance.
If a mixture or substance contains more than one (1) controlled substance, the weight of the mixture or substance is assigned to the controlled substance that results in the greater punishment.
A person shall be charged and sentenced as follows for a violation of this subsection with respect to:
(1) A controlled substance classified in Schedule I or II, except marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids:
(A) If less than one-tenth (0.1) gram or two (2) dosage units, the violation is a misdemeanor and punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year or a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(B) If one-tenth (0.1) gram or more or two (2) or more dosage units, but less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.
(C) If two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10) grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than eight (8) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.
(D) If ten (10) or more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.
(2) (A) Marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids:
1. If thirty (30) grams or less of marijuana or ten (10) grams or less of synthetic cannabinoids, by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). The provisions of this paragraph (2)(A) may be enforceable by summons if the offender provides proof of identity satisfactory to the arresting officer and gives written promise to appear in court satisfactory to the arresting officer, as directed by the summons. A second conviction under this section within two (2) years is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), not more than sixty (60) days in the county jail, and mandatory participation in a drug education program approved by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of the State Department of Mental Health, unless the court enters a written finding that a drug education program is inappropriate. A third or subsequent conviction under this paragraph (2)(A) within two (2) years is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and confinement for not more than six (6) months in the county jail.
Upon a first or second conviction under this paragraph (2)(A), the courts shall forward a report of the conviction to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics which shall make and maintain a private, nonpublic record for a period not to exceed two (2) years from the date of conviction. The private, nonpublic record shall be solely for the use of the courts in determining the penalties which attach upon conviction under this paragraph (2)(A) and shall not constitute a criminal record for the purpose of private or administrative inquiry and the record of each conviction shall be expunged at the end of the period of two (2) years following the date of such conviction;
2. Additionally, a person who is the operator of a motor vehicle, who possesses on his person or knowingly keeps or allows to be kept in a motor vehicle within the area of the vehicle normally occupied by the driver or passengers, more than one (1) gram, but not more than thirty (30) grams of marijuana or not more than ten (10) grams of synthetic cannabinoids is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or confined for not more than ninety (90) days in the county jail, or both. For the purposes of this subsection, such area of the vehicle shall not include the trunk of the motor vehicle or the areas not normally occupied by the driver or passengers if the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk. A utility or glove compartment shall be deemed to be within the area occupied by the driver and passengers;
(B) Marijuana:
1. If more than thirty (30) grams but less than two hundred fifty (250) grams, by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or confinement in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both; or by a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than three (3) years, or both;
2. If two hundred fifty (250) or more grams but less than five hundred (500) grams, by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or by a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;
3. If five hundred (500) or more grams but less than one (1) kilogram, by imprisonment for not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen (16) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both;
4. If one (1) kilogram or more but less than five (5) kilograms, by imprisonment for not less than six (6) years nor more than twenty-four (24) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both;
5. If five (5) kilograms or more, by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years nor more than thirty (30) years or a fine of not more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), or both.
(C) Synthetic cannabinoids:
1. If more than ten (10) grams but less than twenty (20) grams, by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or confinement in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both; or by a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than three (3) years, or both;
2. If twenty (20) or more grams but less than forty (40) grams, by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or by a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;
3. If forty (40) or more grams but less than two hundred (200) grams, by imprisonment for not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen (16) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both;
4. If two hundred (200) or more grams, by imprisonment for not less than six (6) years nor more than twenty-four (24) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.
(3) A controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV or V as set out in Sections 41-29-117 through 41-29-121, upon conviction, may be punished as follows:
(A) If less than fifty (50) grams or less than one hundred (100) dosage units, the offense is a misdemeanor and punishable by not more than one (1) year or a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(B) If fifty (50) or more grams or one hundred (100) or more dosage units, but less than one hundred fifty (150) grams or five hundred (500) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than one (1) year nor more than four (4) years or a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both.
(C) If one hundred fifty (150) or more grams or five hundred (500) or more dosage units, but less than three hundred (300) grams or one thousand (1,000) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.
(D) If three hundred (300) or more grams or one thousand (1,000) or more dosage units, but less than five hundred (500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen (16) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.
(d) Paraphernalia. (1) It is unlawful for a person who is not authorized by the State Board of Medical Licensure, State Board of Pharmacy, or other lawful authority to use, or to possess with intent to use, paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance in violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law. Any person who violates this subsection (d)(1) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both; however, no person shall be charged with a violation of this subsection when such person is also charged with the possession of thirty (30) grams or less of marijuana under subsection (c)(2)(A) of this section.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to deliver, sell, possess with intent to deliver or sell, or manufacture with intent to deliver or sell, paraphernalia, knowing, or under circumstances where one reasonably should know, that it will be used to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance in violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law. Except as provided in subsection (d)(3), a person who violates this subsection (d)(2) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both.
(3) Any person eighteen (18) years of age or over who violates subsection (d)(2) of this section by delivering or selling paraphernalia to a person under eighteen (18) years of age who is at least three (3) years his junior is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(4) It is unlawful for any person to place in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement, knowing, or under circumstances where one reasonably should know, that the purpose of the advertisement, in whole or in part, is to promote the sale of objects designed or intended for use as paraphernalia. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any physician practicing medicine in this state to prescribe, dispense or administer any amphetamine or amphetamine-like anorectics and/or central nervous system stimulants classified in Schedule II, pursuant to Section 41-29-115, for the exclusive treatment of obesity, weight control or weight loss. Any person who violates this subsection, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be confined for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(f) Trafficking. (1) Any person trafficking in controlled substances shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term of not less than ten (10) years nor more than forty (40) years and shall be fined not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) nor more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). The ten-year mandatory sentence shall not be reduced or suspended. The person shall not be eligible for probation or parole, the provisions of Sections 41-29-149, 47-5-139, 47-7-3 and 47-7-33, to the contrary notwithstanding.
(2) "Trafficking in controlled substances" as used herein means:
(A) A violation of subsection (a) of this section involving thirty (30) or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units of a Schedule I or II controlled substance except marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids;
(B) A violation of subsection (a) of this section involving five hundred (500) or more grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) or more dosage units of a Schedule III, IV or V controlled substance;
(C) A violation of subsection (c) of this section involving thirty (30) or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units of a Schedule I or II controlled substance except marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids;
(D) A violation of subsection (c) of this section involving five hundred (500) or more grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) or more dosage units of a Schedule III, IV or V controlled substance; or
(E) A violation of subsection (a) of this section involving one (1) kilogram or more of marijuana or two hundred (200) grams or more of synthetic cannabinoids.
(g) Aggravated trafficking. Any person trafficking in Schedule I or II controlled substances, except marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids, of two hundred (200) grams or more shall be guilty of aggravated trafficking and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than twenty-five (25) years nor more than life in prison and shall be fined not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) nor more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). The twenty-five-year sentence shall be a mandatory sentence and shall not be reduced or suspended. The person shall not be eligible for probation or parole, the provisions of Sections 41-29-149, 47-5-139, 47-7-3 and 47-7-33, to the contrary notwithstanding.
(h) Sentence mitigation. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a person who has been convicted of an offense under this section that requires the judge to impose a prison sentence which cannot be suspended or reduced and is ineligible for probation or parole may, at the discretion of the court, receive a sentence of imprisonment that is no less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence prescribed by the applicable statute. In considering whether to apply the departure from the sentence prescribed, the court shall conclude that:
(A) The offender was not a leader of the criminal enterprise;
(B) The offender did not use violence or a weapon during the crime;
(C) The offense did not result in a death or serious bodily injury of a person not a party to the criminal enterprise; and
(D) The interests of justice are not served by the imposition of the prescribed mandatory sentence.
The court may also consider whether information and assistance were furnished to a law enforcement agency, or its designee, which, in the opinion of the trial judge, objectively should or would have aided in the arrest or prosecution of others who violate this subsection. The accused shall have adequate opportunity to develop and make a record of all information and assistance so furnished.
(2) If the court reduces the prescribed sentence pursuant to this subsection, it must specify on the record the circumstances warranting the departure.
(i) Mississippi Medical Cannabinoids. This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 33. Section 41-29-141, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-141. It is unlawful for any person:
(1) Who is subject to Section 41-29-125 to distribute or dispense a controlled substance in violation of Section 41-29-137;
(2) Who is a registrant under Section 41-29-125 to manufacture a controlled substance not authorized by his registration, or to distribute or dispense a controlled substance not authorized by his registration to another registrant or other authorized person;
(3) To refuse or fail to make, keep or furnish any record, notification, order form, statement, invoice or information required under this article;
(4) To refuse a lawful entry into any premises for any inspection authorized by this article; or
(5) Knowingly to keep or maintain any store, shop, warehouse, dwelling, building, vehicle, boat, aircraft, or other structure or place, which is resorted to by persons using controlled substances in violation of this article for the purpose of using these substances, or which is used for keeping or selling them in violation of this article.
Any person who violates this section shall, with respect to such violation, be subject to a civil penalty payable to the State of Mississippi of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00).
In addition to the civil penalty provided in the preceding paragraph, any person who knowingly or intentionally violates this section shall be guilty of a crime and upon conviction thereof may be confined for a period of not more than one (1) year or fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 34. Section 41-29-143, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-143. It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally:
(1) To distribute as a registrant a controlled substance classified in Schedule I or II, as set out in Sections 41-29-113 and 41-29-115, except pursuant to an order form as required by Section 41-29-135;
(2) To use in the
course of the manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance a
registration number which is fictitious, revoked, suspended, or issued to
another person * * *;
(3) To furnish false or fraudulent material information in, or omit any material information from, any application, report, or other document required to be kept or filed under this article, or any record required to be kept by this article; or
(4) To make, distribute, or possess any punch, die, plate, stone, or other thing designed to print, imprint, or reproduce the trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark, imprint or device of another or any likeness of any of the foregoing upon any drug or container or labeling thereof so as to render the drug a counterfeit substance.
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a crime and upon conviction may be confined for not more than one (1) year or fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or both.
This section does not apply to any of the acts regarding the medical use of cannabis that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
SECTION 35. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2021.