SB2706 Summary

• Renames the "Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Act" to the "Mississippi Hemp Act" and expands regulation to include manufacture, production, distribution and sale of consumable hemp products (non-beverages), with administration transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the State Department of Health.

• Reduces the THC threshold violation from 0.5% to 0.3% on a dry weight basis and prohibits sale of products derived from cannabis except as authorized under the Hemp Act, Medical Cannabis Act, or light intoxicating beverage statutes.

• Establishes licensing requirements for hemp retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and processors with annual fees ($200-$500), requires product labeling approval, certificates of analysis, and quarterly reporting to the State Department of Health.

• Imposes a 3% excise tax on consumable hemp products and creates a State Department of Revenue-maintained directory of approved hemp product manufacturers and brands; products not listed after 90 days are subject to seizure and destruction.

• Legalizes hemp beverages as "light intoxicating beverages" regulated like beer and light wine under Chapter 3, Title 67, with restrictions on THC content (no more than 0.3%), container size (12 fluid ounces), and THC per container (no more than 5 milligrams).