Where’s the weed? LSU, Southern still ponder cultivation

LSU’s board of supervisors will likely get its first update on the option for the state’s flagship university to cultivate medical marijuana this month, although the first legal crop of Louisiana weed is still at least a year away.

“The LSU AgCenter is evaluating the medical marijuana legislation,” LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson told Gannett Louisiana in an email Tuesday. “We are waiting for designated agencies by the law to establish the regulations.”

The Louisiana Legislature passed a bill approving the cultivation of medical marijuana during its session this summer, giving the LSU and Southern University AgCenters the right of first refusal to grow it. Gov. Bobby Jindal later signed it into law.

While medical marijuana has technically been legal for decades in Louisiana through a doctor’s prescription, there was no mechanism allowing for legal dispensing. The approved marijuana will only come in the processed form of a pill or oils.

Southern University AgCenter interim Chancellor Adell Brown Jr. said leaders there are also evaluating whether to cultivate the crop and will also consult with its board before moving forward.

“We’re certainly interested in the possibility both for the help it could provide to patients who need it and as a possible revenue stream,” Brown said.

Richardson has said the possibility of generating revenue for the LSU AgCenter is also one of the reasons the university is considering growing medical marijuana. Both universities’ AgCenters have had to make deep cuts in operations during the past decade because of reductions in state funding.

But both Richardson and Brown said they’re awaiting regulations before making a final decision.

“Then the LSU AgCenter and Southern University AgCenter can determine what will be our involvement in the production of product,” Richardson said. “We will also consult with the LSU President (F. King Alexander) and the board of supervisors before making a decision.”

“We need to see the final details,” Brown said.

Richardson said it’s likely he or Alexander will update the board at its Sept. 18 meeting.

“We haven’t seen the agenda yet, but that has been suggested,” he said.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture is drafting the regulations for production, processing and distribution, while the Louisiana Pharmacy Board is responsible for producing rules for dispensing.

“We are working on it now and will provide a cost estimate for the regulations to the Legislature in January and have the rules in place by the time the Legislative Session begins next spring.,” Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said. “We’re moving forward.”

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