Louisiana lawmakers toss out emergency rules for medical cannabis growers

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Louisiana lawmakers nullified rules the state agriculture commissioner had enacted for medical marijuana growers.

The regulations outlined who is allowed in restricted areas, how visitors are handled and what video surveillance is required, among other issues.

The House Agriculture Committee rejected the rules Wednesday.

Chair Clay Schexnayder said Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain shouldn’t have used an emergency process, saying the rules didn’t meet the criteria.

Louisiana State University’s AgCenter, which oversees one cannabis grower in the state, criticized the issuance of the regulations, saying it had no opportunity to voice concerns.

The regulations were the latest issue in a contentious relationship between Strain’s department and the LSU grower.

Strain could reissue the rules through a lengthier process allowing public comment or rewrite them to try to meet emergency criteria.

The long-awaited sales launch of Louisiana’s MMJ program has been delayed at least until June.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily