MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Blackwell, Jackson, Hickman, Simmons (13th), Boyd
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CANNABIS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; TO SET CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH THE MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH SHALL BE THE COMMITTEE THAT IS REQUIRED TO ADVISE THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT MEDICAL CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS, PATIENT CARE, SERVICES AND INDUSTRY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD; TO PROVIDE THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITIES; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO RECEIVE PER DIEM SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REPORT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEES OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program at the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education at the University of Mississippi.
(2) Subject to funding, the program:
(a) Shall seek state, federal and private funds to award grants for medical cannabis research;
(b) Shall facilitate and support funding for research related to the health effects, including the potential risks or side effects, of the use of cannabis products;
(c) Shall facilitate and support funding for research related to the efficacy and potential health effects of various cannabis delivery methods, including vaporizing, ingesting, topical application, and combustion;
(d) Shall support researchers in applying for and securing federal and private research grant funding for expanding medical cannabis research;
(e) Shall review current and future cannabis research literature, clinical studies, and clinical trials;
(f) Shall educate medical providers, lawmakers, and the public about medical cannabis research advances;
(g) Shall, if requested, consult with researchers and eligible institutions seeking to conduct medical cannabis research regarding legal implications of the research under state and
federal law;
(h) Shall monitor, to the extent that is appropriate and when sufficient data is available, patient outcomes in any state with a medicinal cannabis program;
(i) May coordinate, share knowledge, and share best practices with a state:
(i) That has a medical cannabis program; and
(ii) Is conducting cannabis research;
(j) May award or facilitate funding for grants to an eligible institution for medical cannabis research, including research regarding the growing of a medical-grade cannabis plant
that is used for a cannabis product;
(k) May support a licensed cannabis cultivation facility to provide medical-grade cannabis products for research;
(l) Shall make, for research conducted by the program, the research outcomes publicly available;
(m) Shall maintain a catalog of all published scientific reports based on projects funded or managed by the program;
(n) Shall ensure that an individual who agrees to use a cannabis product as part of a research project conducted by the program or a grantee:
(i) Is a registered, qualifying patient cardholder; or
(ii) If included in the research project as a resident of another state, has the equivalent of such certification under the laws of another state, district, territory, commonwealth or insular possession of the United States;
(o) Shall provide information to the Department of Health describing:
(i) All research projects that are funded by a grant awarded by the program, including which institution received the grant;
(ii) All research projects conducted by the program; and
(iii) The adequacy of funding for the program's duties.
(3) For research funded, conducted, or facilitated by the program, the program shall ensure the research:
(a) Includes appropriate research development, testing, and evaluation; and
(b) If the research involves human subjects, is reviewed, approved, and overseen by an institutional review board.
(4) The University of Mississippi shall provide staff for the program.
SECTION 2. (1) There is established the Medical Cannabis Research Advisory Board, which shall be the board that is required to advise and review research about medical cannabis and cannabinoid research activities, status of research plans and research budget, and research findings of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program at the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education at the University of Mississippi.
(2) The advisory board shall consist of eleven (11) members, as follows:
(a) The Governor shall appoint four (4) members to the committee, as follows:
(i) Two (2) Medical Cannabis Researchers from the University of Mississippi's NCCRE;
(ii) One (1) registered qualifying patient enrolled in medical cannabis research in Mississippi; and
(iii) One (1) physician who is a Mississippi registered cannabis practitioner with over one hundred (100) cannabis patients.
(b) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint four (4) members, as follows:
(i) One (1) medical cannabis research scientist;
(ii) One (1) representative from the MDOH who is involved in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program;
(iii) One (1) advanced practice registered nurse who is a Mississippi registered cannabis practitioner with over one hundred (100) patients; and
(iv) One (1) medical cannabis research technologist.
(c) The Speaker of the House shall appoint three (3) members, as follows:
(i) One (1) physician experienced as a principal investigator in cannabinoid research and/or clinical trials;
(ii) One (1) epidemiologist; and
(iii) One (1) patient care advocate.
(3) The advisory board shall meet at least every three (3) months or as often as necessary for the purpose of evaluating and making recommendations to the Legislature and the MDOH and MDOR regarding:
(a) Developing evidence-based guidance for treatment with medical cannabis based on the latest medical research that shall include:
(i) For each qualifying condition, a summary of the latest medical research regarding the treatment of the qualifying condition with medical cannabis;
(ii) Risks, contraindications, side effects, and adverse reactions that are associated with medical cannabis use; and
(iii) Potential drug interactions between medical cannabis and medications that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and
(b) Educate recommending medical providers, pharmacy medical providers, medical cannabis cardholders, and the public regarding:
(i) The evidence-based guidance for treatment with medical cannabis;
(ii) Relevant warnings and safety information related to medical cannabis use; and
(iii) Other topics related to medical cannabis use as determined by the department.
(4) The Chairman of the Medical Cannabis Research Advisory Board shall be elected by the voting members of the board annually and shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive years as chairman.
(5) The members of the Medical Cannabis Research Advisory Board specified in subsection (2) of this section shall serve for terms that are concurrent with the terms of members of the Legislature, and any member appointed under subsection (2) of this section may be reappointed to the advisory board. The members of the advisory board specified in subsection (2) of this section shall serve without compensation but shall receive reimbursement to defray actual expenses incurred in the performance of board business as authorized by law.
The board shall:
(a) Nominate a board member to serve as chairperson of the board by a majority vote of the board members; and
(b) Meet as often as necessary to accomplish the duties assigned to the board under this act.
(6) Each board member, including the chair, has one (1) vote.
(7) (a) A majority of board members constitutes a quorum.
(b) A vote of a majority of the quorum at any board meeting is necessary to take action on behalf of the board.
(8) Subject to appropriation, a board member:
(a) Shall receive a per diem in the amount provided in Section 25-3-69 for each day engaged in the business of the board; and
(b) Shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the board in accordance with Section 25-3-41.
(9) The MDOH and MDOR shall act swiftly to assist the Advisory Board with any request.
SECTION 3. (1) By the November interim meeting each year beginning in 2024, the department shall report to the Public Health and Welfare Committees of the Mississippi State Senate and the House of Representatives on information provided by the Medical Cannabis Research Program described in this act.
(2) The department shall not include personally identifying information in the report described in this section.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.