Louisiana State University announced plans to partner with GB Sciences for the state’s medical marijuana manufacturing program. LSU’s AgCenter will contract with the Las Vegas-based company — pending approval of the school’s Board of Supervisors — to grow weed and produce a medical-grade marijuana-based product available for prescription by 2018.
The program comes two years after the passage of statewide legislation to begin planting, cultivating, dispensing and prescribing medical marijuana in Louisiana — a long, strange trip that began in the 1970s with the passage of a statewide medical marijuana law but was effectively useless over the last four decades, until now.
The AgCenter says no tax dollars will be used for the program, which could cost up to $15 million. The company likely will build a facility to grow the plant at a secure, undisclosed location, as per state law. LSU Vice President of Agriculture Bill Richardson previously announced a crop could be ready by 2018, though the state won’t see profits for another several years.
Louisiana is among 28 states and the District of Columbia with programs in place or in development to cultivate and sell marijuana for medical use.
credit:bestofneworleans.com
