History made: Mississippi’s first medical marijuana dispensaries open for business

In a historic moment for the cannabis legalization movement, Mississippi’s first legal sale of medical marijuana took place earlier today in the town of Brookhaven.

“It’s a very exciting day today,” said Melvin C. Robinson III, executive director of the Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association, who was on hand outside The Cannabis Company dispensary to celebrate the first sale on Wednesday afternoon. “History has been made in Brookhaven.”

Debbie McDermott, a local woman who suffers from chronic pain, made the first purchase. “I think it’s going to [offer] so much help for so many people,” McDermott said. “I’m excited that there’s an alternative to the medicines that are good, but they’re not great, like opiates.”

The first of 162 licensed dispensaries

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed the state’s medical marijuana legalization legislation into law on Feb. 2, 2022. Since then, the state has issued licenses to 162 dispensaries, most of which are expected to open over the coming year.

In these early days, product selection is expected to be relatively limited as farmers and manufacturers get their operations up and running. The Cannabis Company’s menu so far features Apple Fritter flower for $60 an eighth.

Dispensaries also open in Oxford and St. Martin

Jake Davis, reporter for the Oxford Eagle, was on hand for another first-day sale, this one at Hybrid Relief Cannabis in Oxford. According to the dispensary’s menu on Leafly, OG Kush grams were selling for $11.42.