Get a Mississippi Medical Marijuana Card

Next steps after approval

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification.

Per state regulations, you must apply to the state within 60 days to receive your medical card.

Here’s a guide to what you need to do next.

Before you start, have the following ready:

• Digital photo
• Proof of State Residency (residential ownership deed, lease/rental documents, power bill, gas bill, water bill, vehicle registration)
• MS Driver’s License or MS State ID
• Caregiver Authorization (if applicable)
• MS Medicaid Participant Document Proof/MS Medicaid card (if applicable)
• Disabled Veteran or Disabled First Responder Document Proof (if applicable)

Getting your Mississippi medical marijuana card:

1. Register as a new user with the state here.
2. Receive an email to confirm your email address and click the link to verify your email address.
3. Once logged in, click “Create New Application,” then click, “New Patient Registration.”
4. Under the “General Information” section, complete all requirements (including your name, social security, phone number, and ID number).
5. Under the “Contact Information” section, complete all requirements.
6. Under “Certifying Practitioner/Condition Information,” click “View Available Certifications.” If there is no certificate on file, please wait. It typically takes a provider 24-48 hours to submit your details.
7. Once selected, check the information and click “Save & Next.”
8. If applicable, input the required information under “Caregiver Information.” If you do not need a caregiver, select “No” and move on.
9. Answer all required prompts in the “Questions and Attestations” section and complete the digital signature at the bottom of the page.
10. Under “Documents,” upload the following:
    1. Your digital photograph (passport style)
    2. Proof of residency
    3. Proof of ID
    4. Caregiver authorization (if applicable)
11. Submit your non-refundable state application fee (by credit card or ACH).
12. Once submitted, you will need to wait for state approval.
13. Once approved, you can view and download or print your digital card.

Additional Resources:

• Portal User Guide
• Pre-Application Checklist
• 6-Month Update Guide
• FAQs

Please note: You have 60 days from the date of your certification to complete the state application. Failure to do so may result in additional fees.

How to renew your MMJ card

There is no difference between getting a recommendation letter as an existing cardholder or a new medical cannabis patient. Here is the process for getting your renewal (can be done online if you saw your provider in person for your initial certification):

1. Sign in to your Leafwell account or register as a renewal patient here.
2. Speak to a Mississippi-licensed provider, get approved, and your provider will complete your certification using your SSN.
3. Log into your account with the MS DOH and complete the state renewal application within 60 days.*
4. Receive your state approval and access your digital MMJ card to legally purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensary.

*Per state regulations, you must complete the state application within 60 days of certification. Failure to do so may result in additional fees.

Next steps after renewal

Now that you’ve been approved for renewal, submit your renewal application to the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.

Per state regulations, you must apply to the state within 60 days to receive your medical card.

Renewing Your Mississippi Medical Marijuana Card:

1. Log in to the portal: https://ms-doh-public.nls.egov.com/login.
2. Click on “Create New Application.”
3. Select “Patient Renewal.”
4. Next, select the license number (PATS number on your card) and click Save.
5. Under the “General Information” section, complete all requirements (including your name, social security, phone number, and ID number).
6. Under the “Contact Information” section, complete all requirements.
7. Under “Certifying Practitioner/Condition Information,” click “View Available Certifications.” If there is no certificate on file, please wait. It typically takes a provider 24-48 hours to submit your details.
8. Once selected, check the information and click “Save & Next.”
9. If applicable, input the required information under “Caregiver Information.” If you do not need a caregiver, select “No” and move on.
10. Answer all required prompts in the “Questions and Attestations” section and complete the digital signature at the bottom of the page.
11. Under “Documents,” upload the following:
    1. Your digital photograph (passport style)
    2. Proof of residency
    3. Proof of ID
    4. Caregiver authorization (if applicable)
12. Submit your non-refundable state application fee (by credit card or ACH).
13. Once submitted, you will need to wait for state approval.
14. Once approved, you can view and download or print your digital card.

Please note: You have 60 days from the date of your certification to complete the state application. Failure to do so may result in additional fees.

Legal limitations for cardholders

Below are a few need-to-know medical marijuana laws enforced in Mississippi.

Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act: The MS Medical Cannabis Act made medical marijuana legal and created a medical marijuana program in Mississippi. The bill was officially signed into law in 2022. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act also outlined legal protections for medical cannabis patients, regulations, local controls and bans, and potency controls, among others.

Adverse Employment Action:  Employers are not required to modify the job or working conditions of medical cannabis patients.  Employers are allowed to refuse to hire an applicant and can take adverse action against employees, up to and including termination.

Medical Marijuana Use Limitations: Patients can not smoke or vaporize cannabis in vehicles or public places. Patients can not drive or operate other motor vehicles under the influence of cannabis. Patients under 21 cannot enter a dispensary without a custodial parent or legal guardian.

No Cultivation: Patients cannot cultivate cannabis. Growing cannabis is illegal in the state of Mississippi.

Recreational Use Illegal: Adult-use cannabis is prohibited, but hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 and CBD are legal.

How to become a caregiver

Caregivers must apply for Registered Designated Caregiver Identification Cards. This process is similar to applying for medical marijuana cards.

Eligibility Criteria

• At least 21 years of age (unless the person is the parent or legal guardian of each qualifying patient the person assists).
• Caregiver applicants are prohibited from having a disqualifying felony offense.
• The department will only issue a designated caregiver identification card after issuing the designated caregiver’s qualifying patient’s identification card.
• Background checks are required for caregivers, applicants for work permits, and owners with an economic interest of 10% or greater. Background check information can be found here.

Caregiver Limitations

Assists up to five registered qualifying patients (certain exceptions apply).

Caregivers for minor patients must be the child’s primary custodial parent or legal guardian. Documentation of custody will need to be uploaded with the caregiver application in the form of a birth certificate or legal documents designating custody.

If an applicant is applying to become a registered designated caregiver for a qualified minor patient and is not the patient’s parent or legal guardian, the caregiver applicant must also submit an authorization from the patient’s parent or legal guardian to serve in a caregiver capacity.

Please note: Currently, Leafwell cannot certify minors or those between 18 and 25 years old in Mississippi.

Application Process

• You must be designated as a caregiver by a patient already approved for the program. You can apply to be a designated caregiver through the MSDH website. You must also complete the Designation of Caregiver Form and upload it with your application.
• The fee is $25 for the application and $37 for the criminal background check.

Review the Pre-Application Checklist (which can be used for all application types).

Can I use my Mississippi card in other states?

Mississippi doesn’t accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards, but it does issue Nonresident Qualifying Patient Identification Cards.Other states and U.S. territories that have either legalized the recreational/ medical marijuana use or recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards include:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

Minor patient information

Minors need to be approved by two providers, in person, from two different practices.

A certification issued for a minor (under the age of 18) may only be issued by a physician (MD/DO). Caregivers for minor patients MUST be the child’s primary custodial parent or legal guardian.

Documentation of custody will need to be uploaded with caregiver application in the form of a birth certificate or legal documents designating custody.

A certification issued for an individual between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-five (25) must meet the following conditions:

1. The debilitating condition is confirmed by two practitioners from separate practices after an in-person consultation (this isn’t required if the person is homebound or had an identification card before the age of 18); and,
2. One of the practitioners must be a physician (MD/DO).

Please note: Leafwell cannot certify minor patients at this time.