Rootdown, a Mississippi-based medical cannabis dispensary, opened a location in Oxford on April 9, adding to the city’s growing number of marijuana retailers. Rootdown has locations in Mississippi cities Corinth, Grenada, Olive Branch, Senatobia, Starkville and Tupelo.
Medical marijuana was legalized in Mississippi in 2022, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to purchase cannabis through licensed dispensaries.
Mississippi’s evolving medical cannabis landscape took another turn on March 26 after Governor Tate Reeves vetoed a bill that would have expanded access to medical marijuana, citing concerns over loosened regulations and access for out-of-state residents.
The vetoed legislation, House Bill 1152, known as the “Right to Try Medical Cannabis Act,” would have allowed patients with serious or terminal illnesses not currently covered under Mississippi’s program to petition for access to medical marijuana.
The bill also included a provision allowing some out-of-state residents to participate in the program — a change Reeves said could shift the program away from its intended medical focus.
The decision underscores ongoing uncertainty in Mississippi’s medical cannabis industry as businesses and patients navigate evolving regulations. That uncertainty is already shaping how cannabis businesses operate and expand across the state.
Rootdown founder Ross Ethridge said the company was created as interest in medical cannabis grew in Mississippi and out-of-state operators began entering the market.
“Rootdown is a Mississippi company — hard stop — founded, funded and operated by Mississippians, for Mississippians,” Ethridge said.
Ethridge described the Oxford location as a milestone for the company and its growth in North Mississippi. Both Ethridge and his co-founder Scott Noblitt attended the University of Mississippi.
“Oxford is an exclamation point and milestone for this journey,” Ethridge said.
Some Oxford residents view dispensaries as a positive step toward reducing reliance on prescription medications.
“I believe that medical cannabis dispensaries are an excellent adaptation in society. They stand as a representation of the slow, but sure, replacement of select prescription drugs,” Oxford resident Cameron Cain said.
Others, however, expressed concern about regulation and the increasing number of dispensaries operating in the city — now six with the addition of Rootdown.
“I recognize and appreciate the value of medical marijuana. I am concerned about the lax standards for qualification of use and think this should be of use in limited circumstances, primarily for pain relief,” Oxford local Roxanne Baker said.
Baker also cited studies on the potential cognitive effects of medical marajuana, particularly from the active ingredient THC.
“Studies consistently highlight the negative impacts of THC on cognitive ability and short-term memory. I don’t understand why Oxford needs multiple dispensaries as part of our retail businesses,” Baker said.
Research published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience medical journal has shown that THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, can impair memory, attention and other cognitive functions, particularly during acute intoxication and with higher doses.
Studies published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, however, suggest the effects may vary depending on frequency of use, dosage and individual factors, with certain research finding limited or inconsistent long-term cognitive impacts.
Ethridge said Rootdown aims to address concerns by prioritizing patient care and ethical practices.
“To put it lightly, doing things correctly and ethically at Rootdown is more than just business,” he said.
Rootdown’s newest location is at 821 N. Lamar Ave. in Oxford.
All Rights Reserved to S. Gale Denley Student Media Center 2019
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