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JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force will convene Monday, July 8, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 113 of the Mississippi State Capitol. The meeting is open to the public.
The Task Force, chaired by Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, was established by the Mississippi Legislature to consider the potential of hemp cultivation, market potential, and potential job creation in Mississippi. Topics that will be presented include the regulation and cultivation of hemp, the University of Mississippi Cannabis Research Program, current issues related to cannabis, and law enforcement issues related to hemp.
“I look forward to leading a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion with the other members of the Task Force as we examine all the issues surrounding the cultivation of hemp in Mississippi,” said Commissioner Gipson. “In all our considerations, we will keep a keen focus on the interests of Mississippians, including our farmers, law enforcement and other stakeholders, as well as the general public. We will thoroughly explore the potential as well as the challenges experienced by other states.”
The Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force was created by House Bill 1547 enacted during the 2019 Regular Legislative Session. Members of the Task Force are as follows:
Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Wes Burger, Mississippi State University
Edmund Bucker, Alcorn State University
Larry Walker, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy National Center for Natural Products Research
Paul Dees, Delta Council
Brittany Ridinger, Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office
Mike Lanford, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
Jeff Jones, Director of Pharmacy, Mississippi State Department of Health
Bill Pigott, Mississippi House of Representatives
Josh Harkins, Mississippi Senate
Marshall Fisher, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety
Andy Whittington, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
John Dowdy, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director (Governor Designee)
The meeting, which is open to the public, can also be viewed through livestreaming on the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Facebook page. The public can submit comments by emailing MSHempTaskForce@mdac.ms.gov.
HEMP CULTIVATION TASK FORCE MEETING
July 8, 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Mississippi Capitol, Room 113
10:00 – 10:10 Introductory Remarks
Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
10:10 – 10:25 Introductions and Perspectives on Hemp
Task Force Members
10:25 – 10:40 Regulation and Cultivation of Hemp
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce
Chris McDonald, Director of Federal Affairs
Michael Ledlow, Director of Bureau of Plant Industry
10:40 – 10:55 University of Mississippi Cannabis Research Program
Dr. Larry Walker, Director Emeritus of the National Center for Natural Products Research
10:55 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:10 Current Issues Related to Cannabis
Jeffery Jones, MS State Department of Health, Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Liaison/Policy Analyst and Residency Program Director
11:10 – 11:20 Hemp Law Enforcement Concerns
Marshall Fisher, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety
11:20 – 11:40 Open Discussion
11:40 – 11:55 Action Item – Report to Legislature
Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
11:55 – 12:00 Confirmation of Next Meeting – September 25
Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
12:00 Adjourn
