Louisiana State University and GB Sciences, Inc. should finalize partnership by August.
Many people don’t know this, but cannabis has been legal for medical use since 1991. The problem, however, has been that there were no laws on how to dispense it. Because of this, qualifying patients knew that they could legally use cannabis but had no idea how to find any.
After hard work from Republican Senator Fred Mills on Senate Bill 143 (SB143) and a heartfelt testimony from now deceased Alison Neusom, the Alison Neustrom Act (ANA) will help Louisiana cannabis patients acquire safe access to medicine. SB143 does not legalize the smoking or inhalation of cannabis, but patients will be allowed to consume extractions of the plant.
Currently, the following qualifying conditions will give patients access to cannabis:
- Cancer, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS or the treatment of these conditions
- A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
- Cachexia, or wasting syndrome.
- Seizure disorders, including those characteristics of epilepsy.
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristics of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease.
Now, the State of Louisiana is granting licenses for cultivation, distribution, and sale of medical cannabis. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) holds one of only two licenses in the state. The other license is held by Southern University At the end of June, GB Sciences, Inc. secured the bid to be the sole vendor of cannabis and extractions on behalf of LSU for patients in Louisiana.
To secure this bid GB Sciences raised a total of two million dollars in bonds. Other companies did put in this open bid process, but GB Sciences hopes to close the final contract with LSU by August.
“This is groundbreaking news and a tremendous opportunity,” said GB Sciences CEO John Poss, “Now that approval from the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors has been received, contract negotiations will commence and should be completed within the next 30 days. Then we can begin the real work.”
ANA specifically authorizes LSU AgCenter to conduct medical cannabis research at their facility. Because of this, there will be a research program run alongside the commercial cultivation facility. GB Sciences will retain first rights on commercializing findings or discovery that may come to light in the program. The garden will also contain a 5,000 square foot research laboratory.The focus of this partnership will help GB Sciences’ reach their goal of having their patented formulations used in future FDA approved Clinical Trials.
These companies are working together to serve the citizens of Louisiana as they take steps to solve a decade long problem of having zero access to medicinal cannabis.
