Is marijuana legal in Mississippi?
Only for medical use. As of 2026, Mississippi allows medical cannabis for registered patients, and recreational weed is illegal. Home growing is not allowed. Possession of 30 grams or less is a civil offense on a first violation.
Status checked November 4, 2026
Contents
Marijuana laws in Mississippi
Mississippi created its medical cannabis program with House Bill 277, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, signed February 2, 2022, after the state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 65. Recreational marijuana is not legal. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program, overseen with the state health and revenue departments, issues registry identification cards and licenses dispensaries.
A person may use medical cannabis only with a practitioner’s written certification and a registry card. Resident cardholders may buy no more than 24 MMCEUs in 30 days and may possess up to 28 MMCEUs. One MMCEU equals 3.5 grams of flower, 1 gram of THC in concentrates, or 1 gram of infused products, so 24 MMCEUs is 84 grams of flower. There is no possession cap on nonconsumable topicals. Non-resident (visitor) cardholders may buy 6 MMCEUs in 7 days and up to 12 MMCEUs in 15 days.
Patients buy only inside licensed dispensaries. Home cultivation is not permitted. People under 18 need a parent or guardian as caregiver, and patients under 21 must have a parent or guardian with them to enter a dispensary.
Outside the program, possession of up to 30 grams is a civil offense on a first violation, with a $250 fine. Smoking medical cannabis in public or in a vehicle is banned. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, apart from state-licensed medical marijuana, which moved to Schedule III in April 2026.
What the law says
Legal
- No person shall be authorized to use medical cannabis in this state unless the person (a) has been diagnosed by a practitioner, with whom the person has a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship within his or her scope of practice, as having a debilitating medical condition
- A resident cardholder shall not obtain more than a total of twenty-four (24) MMCEUs of allowable medical cannabis in thirty (30) days from a dispensary or a combination of dispensaries.
- The possession limit for resident cardholders of the allowable amount of medical cannabis shall be a total of twenty-eight (28) MMCEUs.
Not legal
- A medical cannabis dispensary shall only make sales to cardholders inside the dispensary.
- Growing cannabis for personal use (home cultivation is not permitted)
- Smoking or vaporizing medical cannabis in public places or inside motor vehicles
Quoted from Mississippi Code §41-137-5.
How old do you have to be to use marijuana in Mississippi?
There's no legal age to buy recreational weed in Mississippi, because recreational marijuana is illegal at any age. There is no minimum age to qualify for medical cannabis, but patients under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian registered as their caregiver. Patients under 21 may not enter a dispensary unless a parent or legal guardian is with them. Recreational possession remains illegal for everyone, including adults.
How much marijuana can you have in Mississippi?
Only registered medical patients and caregivers can legally have marijuana in Mississippi. Resident cardholders may possess up to 28 MMCEUs and may buy no more than 24 MMCEUs every 30 days. One MMCEU equals 3.5 grams of flower, 1 gram of THC in concentrates, or 1 gram of infused products. There is no possession cap on nonconsumable topicals. For everyone else, possession of up to 30 grams is a civil offense on a first violation, with a $250 fine. Having cannabis in a car anywhere but the trunk is a misdemeanor.
Where can you buy marijuana in Mississippi?
You can buy weed in Mississippi only at licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, and only if you have a registry identification card. Sales must be made inside the dispensary; drive-through, curbside and other outside delivery to cardholders are not allowed. Some topical cannabis products may be sold to any adult 21 or older without a card if they are not ingested through the liver. There are no recreational dispensaries.
Can you grow marijuana at home in Mississippi?
No, you can't grow weed at home in Mississippi, even as a registered medical patient. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program states that growing cannabis for personal use is not permitted. Only licensed medical cannabis establishments may cultivate cannabis in the state, and that cannabis may not be transported out of Mississippi.
Where can you use marijuana in Mississippi?
You can't legally smoke weed in public in Mississippi. Recreational use is illegal, and registered patients may not smoke or vaporize medical cannabis in public places or inside motor vehicles. Patients also may not operate a motor vehicle, boat, aircraft or train, or perform tasks that would be negligent or malpractice, while under the influence. Private use by a registered patient at home is the setting the medical law contemplates.
How do you get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi?
To get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi, you need a written certification from a practitioner who has a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship with you and diagnosed a debilitating medical condition after an in-person assessment. The certification is current for 12 months unless the practitioner sets a shorter period. You then apply to the Mississippi State Department of Health for a registry identification card. Minors need a parent or guardian present who provides signed consent.
Can visitors buy or use marijuana in Mississippi?
Out-of-state visitors can't buy recreational marijuana in Mississippi, because it is illegal. They can buy medical cannabis only if they obtain a non-resident (visitor) card through the state program. Visitor cardholders may purchase 6 MMCEUs in a 7-day period and a maximum of 12 MMCEUs in a 15-day period. Bringing marijuana in from another state without that authorization is treated like any other unlawful possession.
What are the rules on driving and marijuana in Mississippi?
No, you can't drive high in Mississippi. The medical cannabis law prohibits operating a motor vehicle, boat, aircraft or train while under the influence of cannabis. Smoking or vaporizing medical cannabis inside a motor vehicle is separately banned. Possession of cannabis in any part of a vehicle other than the trunk is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.
Can an employer in Mississippi fire you for using marijuana?
Yes, you can get fired for using marijuana in Mississippi. The medical cannabis law does not require employers to allow medical cannabis use, and it does not require insurers or state benefit programs to cover it. Recreational use is illegal and has no job protection. Employers may keep drug-free workplace and testing policies.
What are the penalties for breaking marijuana laws in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, possession of up to 30 grams outside the medical program is a civil offense on a first violation, with a $250 fine. A second offense can add a mandatory jail term of 5 to 60 days. Later offenses can mean fines up to $1,000 and jail of 5 days to 6 months. Possession of more than 30 grams is a felony, with prison terms that rise by weight, starting at 1 to 3 years and a fine of up to $1,000 for 30 to 250 grams. Selling or growing without a license is a crime.
Are CBD, hemp and delta-8 products legal in Mississippi?
Hemp that meets the state's hemp definition, including some CBD products, can be sold separately from medical cannabis. Delta-8, THCA flower and other intoxicating products that do not meet that definition are treated as cannabis. Smokable hemp and intoxicating hemp products are not a legal way around the medical-only rules. Separately, a stricter federal hemp definition, with a total-THC standard that counts THCA and a 0.4 mg-per-container cap, takes effect December 11, 2026.
Does federal law still apply in Mississippi?
Yes. Federal law still applies in Mississippi. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, with one exception: since April 28, 2026, marijuana covered by a state medical marijuana license and FDA-approved marijuana products are in Schedule III. A broader federal rescheduling proceeding was stayed on September 29, 2026, and has no decision date. State law does not change federal rules on federal land, on carrying marijuana across state lines, or on federally required drug testing, such as for DOT-regulated jobs.
Has the law in Mississippi changed recently, or is it about to?
When will weed be legal in Mississippi? There's no date for recreational legalization. The current medical program comes from House Bill 277, signed February 2, 2022, after Initiative 65 was struck down. Home cultivation remains prohibited. New federal hemp limits take effect November 12 and December 11, 2026.
Legislation
Sources (6)
General information, not legal advice. Laws change often, so check with the state's cannabis agency before relying on this.
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