LOUISIANA TAKES A SMALL STEP TOWARDS THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA

By Darryl K. Henderson, J.D.

Several of us know that Canada is the birthplace of the ancestors of many Louisiana residents.  On October 17^th, Canada became the second country, behind Uruguay, to legalize cannabis (commonly referred to as marijuana) for both medical and adult-use.  Stay tuned for what happens in the U.S. after the November mid-term elections.

Meanwhile, in Louisiana, the first legal crop of medical marijuana will be harvested by October 20^th.  LSU and Southern U. are the two authorized medical marijuana growers in Louisiana.   Each university has contracted with private-sector firms to operate the grow operations.

The licensed grower working with LSU – GB Sciences (based in Las Vegas, NV) – expects to start the marijuana drying process during the week of October 22^nd.  GB Sciences has indicated that under ordinary circumstances it could have marijuana product packaged and ready to ship to dispensaries-pharmacies by the middle of November.  Medical marijuana in Louisiana will be sold by licensed dispensaries-pharmacies.

The second licensed grower, working with Southern U. – Advanced Biomedics (based in Lafayette, LA) – is not ready to harvest its first legal medical marijuana crop.

Scientific testing of every legal medical marijuana crop is required by Louisiana regulations before any legal medical marijuana products can be shipped for retail sale.  But the state has not yet selected a third-party laboratory to conduct the scientific testing.  Proposals from prospective labs have not even been received and vetted to make a lab selection decision.  Proposals from labs are expected this month.

Here are more details:

• The agency that regulates the Louisiana medical marijuana program, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), has not yet identified an independent, third-party scientific lab to test legal medical marijuana products.
• The scientific testing required under the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 46, Chapter 24, Subchapter E, Section 2443, focuses on:

• • Active ingredient potency (i.e., THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA)
  • Pesticides
  • Residual solvents (i.e., Butanes, Ethanol)
  • Heavy metals
  • Mycotoxins
  • Microbiological contaminants (i.e., yeast, mold, E. coli, Salmonella)
  • Homogeneity (i.e., product batch consistency)

• The current covered conditions for Louisiana medical marijuana use:

• • Muscular dystrophy
  • Epilepsy
  • Seizures
  • Severe cerebral palsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Cancer
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Chronic pain
  • PTSD
  • Autism

• The authorized Louisiana medical marijuana products will include (all non-smokable):

• • Pills/capsules
  • Liquids
  • Chewables
  • Sprays
  • Topical applications
  • Suppositories
  • Trans-dermal patches

• The licensed Louisiana dispensaries-pharmacies:

• • New Orleans – H&W Drug Store, Inc.
  • Baton Rouge – Capital Wellness Solutions, LLC
  • Houma – Green Leaf Dispensary
  • Lafayette – The Apothecary Shoppe, LLC
  • Lake Charles – Medicia, LLC
  • Alexandria – The Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy, LLC
  • Shreveport – Hope Pharmacy, LLC
  • Monroe – Delta Medmar
  • Madisonville – Willow Pharmacy, LLC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Darryl K. Henderson, J.D. has amassed a broad range of knowledge and skills in a variety of roles, including HR executive, chief diversity officer, chief employment compliance officer, operations executive, business management consultant, executive coach, entrepreneur and employment and commercial lawyer.

Darryl helps organizations to establish the right structure, jobs, talent, culture, strategies, programs and policies to drive productivity and growth.  His functional expertise includes business analyses, organization assessment, strategic planning, administration, process management, operations management, commercial law, community relations, DBE programs, HR structure and implementation, organizational design and effectiveness, employee engagement, leadership development, talent management, change management, EEO/AA compliance, employment law, leveraging the value of diversity with inclusion, and HR metrics and analyses.

Darryl has delivered services to several types of business entities, including headquarter sites, field sales offices, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, retail stores, government agencies, non-profit organizations, professional service firms, and start-up businesses. Geographically, he has served businesses located in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Italy, Ireland, and the UK.

Darryl has helped to sharpen the understanding and delivery of high-performance business services within the cannabis industry, especially in the area of human capital management.  He currently serves as president of Keith Consulting Group, while serving as an executive coach in the Leadership Capstone Program at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-k-henderson-b87521134