A new state-funded cannabis research program is aiming to improve and enhance medical marijuana’s impact in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program, which will be housed and run at the University of Mississippi, was signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves in June. The legislation was spearheaded by state Sens. Reginald Jackson, Rod Hickman, Sarita Simmons, and Nicole Boyd, focusing efforts on the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis and its impact on patients.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Gov. Reeves and the tireless efforts of Sen. Blackwell, Sen. Boyd and their colleagues in championing this landmark legislation,” Robert Welch, director of the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE), said. “The establishment of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program represents a tremendous opportunity to advance scientific knowledge, improve patient care, and ultimately enhance the well-being of individuals across our state and the nation.”
The program will operate under the umbrella of the NCCRE in the university’s School of Pharmacy, with funding from the bill that will enable Ole Miss pharmacy school researchers resources to conduct investigations and new exploration for medical cannabis.
“The National Center for Cannabis Research and Education will help to ensure that Mississippi remains at the forefront of natural products research,” Sen. Boyd said. “I am proud of the University of Mississippi for continuing to be a national leader in research excellence.”
The bill, passed in the 2024 state legislative session, follows a string of controversies in the medical cannabis space, including a $6.3 million lawsuit against a cannabis testing company after subpar products were approved. Medical marijuana was first legalized in the Magnolia State in 2022, making the state one of 14 in the U.S. to allow the drug for medical use only.
