Section 41-138-1 - Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program created; duties and responsibilities(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.Added by Laws, 2024, ch. 317, SB 2888,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2024.