The Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, also known as 3MA, is bringing business developers together to help connect them with resources for growing the medical marijuana industry. Ken Newburger, CEO of 3MA, says he is hopeful that the ongoing developments will be enough to reverse the decisions of localities that have opted out of the state’s cannabis industry.
“About 20% of municipalities and counties opted out, and we’re still compiling that list. It seems to me, like Representative Yancey said today, there are two camps. One of hope and one of fear. And those of us here today are in that camp of hope. And some people who opted out I think they’re still more in that fear camp. Getting people to realize that this is a hopeful thing to help patients is what we’re still trying to do every day.”
During the conference, business developers were able to meet with various vendors with expertise in things like transportation, construction of grow houses, and banking designed specifically for the cannabis industry. Malcolm Topps is a founder of Honest Medical Dispensaries and is planning to open stores in Northern Mississippi.
“One of the challenges that’s going to be here is education. Making sure there’s proper patient and practitioner education. That way people understand what this is and what they’re going to receive with it. It’s nothing to be taken lightly, that way we pursue this thing the proper way and everyone gets the best result out of it.”
Experts say Mississippi’s medical marijuana industry will have limited barriers to entry compared to other states, which could foster healthy competition.
