MS HB1009

Authorizes qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions to use medical marijuana obtained from licensed treatment centers without criminal or civil sanctions.

Establishes the State Department of Health as the regulatory body to issue medical marijuana identification cards to qualified patients upon presentation of physician certification and to license treatment centers.

Limits qualified patients to possession of no more than 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana at any one time and prohibits dispensing more than 2.5 ounces per 14-day period.

Imposes a sales tax equal to the general sales tax rate on medical marijuana sales and creates a special fund for implementation costs, with authority to borrow up to $2.5 million from the Working Cash-Stabilization Fund.

Prohibits smoking medical marijuana in public places (penalty up to $100 fine) and restricts location of treatment centers to at least 500 feet from schools, churches, and child care centers.