There was a come-from-behind win in the race for New Orleans’ first medical marijuana dispensing license Tuesday, when H&W Drug Store was awarded the lone license to dispense MMJ in a region of Louisiana that includes the state’s biggest city. The decision by the state Pharmacy Board to pick the fourth-ranked application upended rankings suggested […]
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Louisiana House backs expansion of medical cannabis program
Louisiana lawmakers are moving to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, as the product nears availability within months. The House voted 60-39 Thursday to add more conditions to the list of diseases and disorders eligible for marijuana treatment, a move that would be a boon for MMJ sales. Rep. Ted James’ proposal would include glaucoma, […]
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Louisiana medical cannabis advocates worry about viability of state’s program
As the launch of Louisiana’s medical marijuana program approaches – sales may begin as soon as September – some stakeholders are beginning to raise concerns about whether private companies that have dispensing licenses are going to be able to survive financially. At the top of the list of those concerned is state Sen. Fred Mills, […]
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Louisiana activists seek to expand medical cannabis conditions list
Medical marijuana may be legal in Louisiana, but not for everyone who wants or needs it. That’s a situation some activists are already pushing to fix. They want to add post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain to the current list of medical ailments that will qualify patients for MMJ under the state’s restrictive program, KNOE […]
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First Louisiana medical cannabis pharmacy targets September opening
The first medical cannabis sale in Louisiana could take place by the end of summer. That’s the proposed timeline for the opening of an MMJ pharmacy in the southern state, slightly two years after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law a new but very restrictive medical cannabis program. The pharmacy, Rx Greenhouse, obtained preliminary […]
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Louisiana State University’s cannabis cultivation contractor sells 15% stake
GB Sciences, a Las Vegas company contracted to develop the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s medical marijuana products and manufacturing program, has sold a 15% stake in the venture. Wellcana Group, which was formed last month in Lafayette, Louisiana, paid $3 million for its share of the project, The Advocate reported. The capital will be used for […]
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New US medical marijuana markets – one year later
If it was a big year for recreational marijuana in 2016, then it was a huge one for medical marijuana.
Voters or state legislatures in 11 states – Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia – approved or advanced medical cannabis measures.
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Louisiana doctors not showing much interest in MMJ program
As Louisiana’s medical marijuana program nears its launch, only two doctors have applied for permission to recommend the drug, raising questions about whether the state’s MMJ system will need tweaking in order to establish a viable industry. One application for the permit required to recommend MMJ to patients has been approved for a Baton Rouge […]
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Southern U. picks contractor to grow medical cannabis in Louisiana
Southern University has selected a vendor to run its medical marijuana program, moving Louisiana’s MMJ industry a step closer to reality. Southern’s Board of Supervisors chose Lafayette-based Advanced Biomedics to grow the marijuana for the Baton Rouge-based university, which will receive more than $6 million over five years from its cultivation partner. Under regulations established […]
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LSU completes deal with medical marijuana producer
Louisiana State University has completed its contract with a company that will grow medical marijuana and expects production to begin as early as mid-2018. The LSU AgCenter said in announcing the arrangement Monday that its new partner, Las Vegas-based GB Sciences, will start renovating its production facility immediately, The Advocate reported. The deal was formalized […]
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Louisiana cannabis contractor’s finances called into question
A Nevada company that won a contract with Louisiana State University (LSU) to run the school’s medical marijuana grow operation is being targeted by a rival that is questioning the firm’s financial stability. CB Medical finished second in the bidding process for the LSU contract, which was awarded in June to Las Vegas-based GB Sciences. […]
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Which state legislatures could legalize recreational, medical marijuana in 2018?
By John Schroyer
Only 26 states in the United States – along with Washington DC – allow independent campaigns to place ballot measures before the general public. Which means the only way to change state laws in almost half the country is through the legislature.
For cannabis advocates, that means pinning legalization hopes on lawmakers, not voters.
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April Issue
Amid growing criticism, NCIA chief Aaron Smith admits missteps and hopes to move the trade group in a new direction.Read the Issue