New Orleans medical marijuana pharmacy gets green light

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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 by a subcommittee, according to The Times-Picayune.

The board voted 9-0 to give the permit to H&W, a company run by a second-generation Louisiana pharmacist.

H&W beat out four other competitors for the license, including the subcommittee’s favorite, The RX Greenhouse, which also runs a dispensary in Maryland.

The permit was the first of nine that will be issued by the board: One license goes to different companies in nine geographic regions, and there’s an option for a 10th permit to be issued as needed.

All nine permits are expected to be awarded this week, the newspaper reported.

H&W’s medical cannabis pharmacy will be located near the heart of New Orleans, at 4718 Paris Ave.