Senate Bill 2771 Summary

• Removes marijuana and hashish from Schedule I controlled substances in Mississippi's Uniform Controlled Substances Act, effective July 1, 2023.

• Establishes new penalties for synthetic cannabinoids (ranging from fines for small amounts to 25-year sentences for aggravated trafficking) to replace marijuana's previous penalty structure.

• Exempts hemp and FDA-approved hemp products from controlled substance classification, and allows continued possession of CBD solution under existing "Harper Grace's Law" provisions.

• Updates definitions and conforming changes throughout drug possession, distribution, and paraphernalia statutes to remove references to marijuana while maintaining penalties for other controlled substances.

• Applies Good Samaritan overdose protections to persons seeking medical assistance for drug overdoses, protecting them from certain drug-related charges for small amounts of controlled substances.