The university isn’t using state funds to produce medical marijuana.
LSU and Southern University have agreed to grow medical marijuana in line with the plan that was established by state legislators earlier this year.
LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson told potential contractors today what to expect when applying to become partnering operators with the state. Richardson says for the plan to work and they need private businesses to assist the AgCenter with the growing, shipping, storing, and securing of the medical cannabis. "We hope that we can find a way to do it a little cheaper for anybody that’s really interested in contracting with us, but we had to be realistic about what it will take to do this", Richardson said.
He warned that the operation won’t be a "cash cow that is going to generate a lot of income quickly". He said the AgCenter will be looking for an indoor warehouse facility to renovate, where everything will be done in the same place from growing and packaging to research and development. The facility must be off-campus, the product can not be transported across state lines and law enforcement insisted state officials perform strict background checks on contractors.
The marijuana produced can not be smoked or vaped, and Richardson said the state wants to stay away from baked goods or edibles.
State Police spokesman Maj. The law will eventually get medicinal-grade pot to people suffering from cancer, a severe form of cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, HIV, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
This projects is the result of a 2015 law passed by Louisiana lawmakers that allows people with certain medical conditions to seek medical marijuana as a possible treatment option.
This story has been corrected to show correction issued by LSU AgCenter saying that medical marijuana won’t be available until summer of 2018.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: LSU – Medical Marijuana Available Next Summer, At Earliest
Author: Melissa Porter
Contact: contact@thelakeandeswave.com
Photo Credit: David Downs
Website: Lake Andes Wave
