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New hotline offers guidance for medical cannabis use, safety
As Mississippi’s medical cannabis program continues to grow, so does the need for reliable, real-time guidance when questions or concerns arise.
To meet that need, the Mississippi Poison Control Center has launched a dedicated Medical Cannabis Hotline. The free, confidential resource is designed to support both patients and providers navigating cannabis use safely.
Available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the hotline connects callers with specially trained poison specialists who can help assess symptoms, answer questions and guide next steps.
“With the legalization of medical cannabis and the implementation of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, the Mississippi Poison Control Center recognized the importance of providing a trusted, accessible resource for information and guidance,” said Mallory Pullman, managing director of the MPCC.
“Before creating the hotline, we were already seeing an increase in calls related to non-medical cannabis exposures. As questions grew and the program expanded, it was obvious that Mississippians needed a reliable source of guidance. A dedicated hotline allows us to support public safety efforts across the state.”
Medical cannabis can be an effective option for some patients, but like any medication, it comes with risks, especially when dosing, formulations or interactions are not fully understood.
The hotline is equipped to handle a wide range of concerns including accidental overuse, incorrect dosing, unexpected side effects, drug interactions and questions about different products or formulations. Specialists can also assist in situations involving accidental exposure, including when children or pets may have ingested cannabis products.
“We want people to know they can call us for anything,” Pullman said. “Not only are our specialists available to reassure callers after a dosing error or unexpected side effects, but they are also able to answer general questions and provide information to support safe use.”
For patients, the service offers reassurance in uncertain moments. For providers, it serves as an additional layer of clinical support as research and guidance around medical cannabis continue to evolve.
"While information about medical cannabis is widely available online, knowing the right questions to ask or how to articulate a concern is not always easy,” said Dr. Michael Marlin, medical director of the MPCC. “Our free hotline helps to bridge the gap when someone’s provider is unavailable or simply uncomfortable answering.”
That accessibility is especially important when symptoms may feel concerning but are not clearly urgent. A quick call can help determine whether a situation can be managed at home, adjustments are needed or whether further medical care should be sought.
As part of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program under the Mississippi State Department of Health, the hotline also plays a broader role in public health.
Specialists not only respond to calls, but also collect and analyze data on accidental exposures, dosing errors and adverse effects. That information helps identify trends and potential risks across the state.
"We designed our medical cannabis hotline to support a data registry that will help identify risk factors when unexpected adverse effects occur or when medical evaluation is necessary and separate these risks from hemp-based cannabis products available on the ‘gray’ market,” Marlin said.
Those insights can inform education efforts, packaging recommendations and safety messaging aimed at reducing preventable incidents and improving patient outcomes.
Medical cannabis is still a developing area of medicine, and many providers are continuing to build their knowledge as new research emerges.
The hotline offers a reliable source of up-to-date information, helping clinicians navigate questions related to pharmacology, dosing and drug interactions.
Due to regulatory barriers and its scheduled status, cannabis pharmacology has historically received little coverage in formal medical training. The medical cannabis hotline is designed to help fill that gap, giving providers a straightforward resource for patient-specific, drug-specific and disease-specific questions.
The MPCC also supports ongoing education efforts and collaborates with partners across the state to ensure both patients and providers have access to accurate, timely information.
If you have questions or concerns about medical cannabis use, call the Mississippi Poison Control Center’s Medical Cannabis Hotline at 601-984-1170.
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