House Bill 579

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING TO ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH PROGRAM ON THE INDOOR PRODUCTION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the purpose of providing funding to Alcorn State University for the research program described in Section 2 of this act for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024.......... $ 2,500,000.00.

SECTION 2. The money appropriated by Section 1 of this act shall be used to defray the expenses of establishing a policy and production research program at Alcorn State University on the indoor production of medical marijuana, including the costs of construction of a laboratory, office space and greenhouse research center, and for conducting educational, research, agribusiness, extension and outreach programs relating to the indoor cultivation of medical marijuana.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue the warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.