LSU extends deadline for medical marijuana cultivation applications

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Marijuana cultivation businesses hoping to grow cannabis for Louisiana State University under a new medical marijuana law have more time to make their case.

LSU extended the deadline for growers to submit plans on how they would run the university’s MMJ cultivation operation to March 31, The Advocate of Baton Rouge reported. The original deadline was March 21.


Spring 2017 MJBizConSchool officials did not say why the deadline was extended.

Last year the state granted LSU and another Baton Rouge-based school,…

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LSU seeking contract growers for medical cannabis

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Louisiana State University, one of two institutions granted approval to grow medical marijuana under the Bayou State’s MMJ law, will soon start taking applications from cultivation contractors interested in doing the work.


Spring 2017 MJBizConThe Baton Rouge-based school said it expects to choose a cultivator by June and that the first medical marijuana crops could be harvested by the end of 2017, according to Baton Rouge TV station WBRZ. LSU officials projected in October that MMJ sales wouldn’t begin until 2018.

The contractor will be expected to foot…

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Louisiana Man Serving 13 Years for Two Joints Has Sentence Reduced

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bernard-noble
Bernard Noble

Simply being arrested for marijuana possession is bad enough, and can have life-long consequences. But imagine spending 13 years in prison for a small personal amount of a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol. That’s what Bernard Noble, a Louisiana man with a history of minor non-violent drug possession offenses, has been subjected to since being convicted in 2010. Now, thanks to the tireless work of his family, his defense attorney, advocates around the country, he will free in 2018.

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Louisiana’s New Medical Cannabis Program Moving Forward

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louisiana medical marijuana

By John Schroyer

Louisiana’s new medical marijuana program is moving ahead after two public universities opted to grow MMJ as the state’s only cultivators.

One university has even talked with law enforcement about about how to avoid breaking the law because of a legal loophole, a sign Louisiana’s MMJ program is on its way to becoming viable.

Louisiana’s foray into medical cannabis marks the first time that a pair of state institutions – Louisiana State University (LSU) and Southern University – are poised to supply all the…

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Louisiana State University Opts Into Marijuana Cultivation

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The Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution allowing the school’s AgCenter to seek a state license to produce cannabis as part of a recently passed medical marijuana law there.

The move could provide an opportunity for private cannabis companies to serve in an advisory role.

LSU’s AgCenter said in a news release it will renovate a private, off-campus indoor facility that will have heavy security.

Students won’t be involved in the initiative. The AgCenter will not receive any additional state funding for…

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Louisiana Getting Closer to a Workable Medical Marijuana Program

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The Louisiana Legislature continues to repeat its mistakes. For nearly 40 years, flawed legislative drafting has prevented the establishment of a workable medical marijuana program. Yesterday, the House took another step forward by passing S.B. 180, but it failed to fix a key omission.

Last week, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law S.B. 271, legislation intended to fix a poison pill so Louisiana can establish a medical marijuana program (you can read about it here). However, that law did not amend the criminal…

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Louisiana Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill

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SB 271 will help to establish a workable medical marijuana program in Louisiana and expands list of qualifying medical conditions; advocates urge further legislative reforms

BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards approved a medical marijuana bill on Thursday that brings the state one step closer to creating a workable medical marijuana law.

SB 271 replaces language in the current law that allows doctors to “prescribe” medical marijuana, which is illegal under federal law, with language that allows them to “recommend” it….

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Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Amending State’s Dormant Medical Marijuana Law

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Governor John Bel Edwards signed legislation Thursday amending the state’s dormant medical marijuana law.

Senate Bill 271 permits physicians to ‘recommend’ rather than ‘prescribe’ medical cannabis therapy. The change allows doctors to authorize cannabis without running afoul of federal law, which prohibits the prescription of a schedule I controlled substance.

The measure also expands the pool of conditions eligible for cannabis therapy to include the following: “cancer, positive status for human…

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Louisiana House Approves Medical Marijuana Bill, Returns to Senate for Concurrence

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Gov. Edwards has indicated he would sign the bill, which would make Louisiana the 25th state in the nation — and the first state in the South — to adopt a workable medical marijuana law

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday (62-31) that would make the state the 25th in the nation — and the first in the South — to adopt a workable medical marijuana law.

The measure has already been approved by the Senate, but will return for a concurrence vote before being sent to Gov. John Bel…

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Louisiana Lawmakers to Hold Hearing on Medical Marijuana Bill

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Local patients and advocates are attending the House Health and Welfare Committee hearing to express their support for HB 1112, which would establish a workable medical marijuana program

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday morning on a bill that would establish a workable medical marijuana program that allows patients with serious illnesses to access medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it.

Several local patients and advocates will be attending the hearing to…

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Louisiana Considering Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Bill

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Last week, Louisiana Rep. Ted James (D–Baton Rouge) filed HB 1112, the Louisiana Therapeutic Use of Cannabis Act, which would establish a comprehensive program allowing seriously ill Louisianans to use and safely access medical marijuana.

Rep. Ted James

While the legislature enacted a bill seeking to institute a similar program last year, problems with that law — and prior ones dating to 1978 — have made the systems unworkable. For example, the current program requires a doctor’s prescription for a patient…

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New Orleans Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession

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Mayor Mitch Landrieu

On Wednesday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed into law an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana possession in the City of New Orleans! Last week the City Council unanimously passed Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s measure, ordinance 31,148. Thanks to everyone who spoke out or turned out in support and to CommonSense NOLA for leading the charge.

Ordinance 31,148 allows law enforcement to issue a ticket — rather than arrest — for marijuana possession, and reduces penalties from possible jail time to a…

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More Municipalities Move Forward With Marijuana Decriminalization

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More Municipalities Move Forward With Marijuana Decriminalization

Local legislators in New Orleans, Louisiana and Tampa, Florida voted last week in favor of municipal ordinances to halt minor marijuana possession arrests within city limits.

Members of the New Orleans city council voted 7 to zero in favor of legislation permitting police to cite rather than arrest minor marijuana offenders (defined as those who possess 14 grams or less), including repeat offenders. First-time violators are subject to a $40 fine while subsequent offenders may face fines of up to $100. Under state law, first-time possession…

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More Municipalities Embrace Marijuana Decriminalization

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Local legislators in New Orleans, Louisiana and Tampa, Florida voted this week in favor of municipal ordinances to halt minor marijuana possession arrests within city limits.

Members of the New Orleans city council voted 7 to zero in favor of legislation permitting police to cite rather than arrest minor marijuana offenders (defined as those who possess 14 grams or less), including repeat offenders. First-time violators are subject to a $40 fine while subsequent offenders may face fines of up to $100. Under state law, first-time possession…

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New Orleans City Council to Consider Reducing Marijuana Penalties

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Councilwoman Susan Guidry

Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. CST, the New Orleans City Council will consider whether to pass a new bill that reduces the penalties for possession of marijuana. Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s bill calls for law enforcement to give a verbal warning instead of an arrest on a first offense marijuana possession charge. The council chamber meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, January 27, will take place at:

1300 Perdido Street, Second Floor West
New Orleans, LA 70112

In addition to turning up to show support at…

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DPA Asks for Reprieve for Louisia Man Serving 13-year Prison Sentence for Two Joints

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Request for Gubernatorial Reprieve by Drug Policy Alliance Urges Louisiana Governor to Free Mr. Bernard Noble

NEW ORLEANS, LA —The Drug Policy Alliance has formally requested the Louisiana Governor to grant Bernard Noble a gubernatorial reprieve and release Mr. Noble from prison, where he has served more than four years behind bars having been sentenced to a term of 13.3 years of hard labor without the opportunity for parole for possessing the equivalent of two marijuana cigarettes.

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 5 of the Louisiana…

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Louisiana Governor Enacts Marijuana Sentencing Reform Measure

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal signed legislation late Monday significantly reducing criminal penalties for marijuana possession offenses.

House Bill 149, which took effect upon signing, amends the state’s toughest-in-the-nation repeat offender laws for marijuana possession offenses.

Under the previous law, second-time possession offenders faced up to five years of hard labor in prison. Third-time offenders faced up to 20 years hard labor in prison.

Under the revised law, two-time marijuana possession offenders face a maximum sentence of six-months in prison. Three-time offenders face a maximum sentence of two-years in prison. Those convicted of marijuana possession for a fourth time face up to eight years in prison.

First-time offenders found in the possession of 14…

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Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Signs Marijuana Reform Bills

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BATON ROUGE, LA — As expected, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Monday signed into law two marijuana reform bills that were passed by the legislature earlier this year.

Of the two bill signed by Jindal, one is aimed at reducing Louisiana’s harsh penalties for marijuana possession, and the other is intended to provide access to medical marijuana 24 years after the state authorized its use.

PENALTY REDUCTION

While not a full marijuana decriminalization bill, House Bill 149 reduces some of the state’s draconian penalties for marijuana possession.  Currently, Louisiana is home to some of the harshest penalties for marijuana convictions in the country, with misdemeanor penalties for first time marijuana offenses for even the smallest amount (up to 60 pounds) of marijuana punishable…

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Louisiana Governor Will Sign Marijuana Reform Bills

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The Louisiana Legislature has sent Gov. Bobby Jindal two bills proposing positive reforms to Louisiana’s marijuana policies! While one bill is largely symbolic, the other will help dial back some of the country’s harshest penalties for marijuana possession.

Gov. Jindal said this week that he will sign both bills into law:

“We are going to sign both bills. They’ve made it through the process. They are going to make to my desk in the next few days,” Jindal told The Des Moines Register.

Senate Bill 143 amends a 1991 law allowing Louisiana’s physicians to prescribe medical marijuana in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, this prescription requirement was not removed and because no physician can prescribe marijuana without risking losing their license to prescribe other…

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Source: The Daily Chronic

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Expected to Sign Marijuana Reform Bill

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New Law Would Be Important Step Toward Reducing Louisiana’s Notoriously Overcrowded Prisons and Jails; Even With This Reform, Louisiana’s Marijuana Laws Would Remain Harsher Than Nearly All Other U.S. States; Majority of Louisianans Support Ending All Criminal Penalties for Marijuana Possession

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana legislature voted Monday to reform its state’s severely punitive marijuana laws and reduce criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession. If signed into law, it’s expected to save the state up to $17…

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Source: The Daily Chronic

Louisiana Gives Final Approval to Marijuana Reform Bill; Gov. Expected to Sign

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House gave final approval to a bill Monday to a bill aimed at reducing the state’s draconian penalties for marijuana possession, which currently could land an offender in jail for 20 years for possessing as little as a single joint.

The House voted 74-19 Monday to approve amendments made to the measure, House Bill 149,  by the Senate before voting to pass the bill last week.  The House had already approved the measure in May, but had to sign off on the Senate’s changes before it could be…

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Louisiana House Approves Medical Marijuana Bill

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BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana House voted Thursday to approve a bill that would give patients suffering from some serious conditions access to medical marijuana.

The House approved Senate Bill 143 by a floor vote of 70 to 29.  The bill now returns to the Senate to approve changes made to the bill in the House.

Last week, the House Committee on Health and Welfare made a few minor, but significant, changes to the bill before voting 16-0 to send Senate Bill 143 — which was approved earlier this month by the Senate — to a third…

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Source: The Daily Chronic

Louisiana Senate Passes Important Marijuana Reform Bill

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Lawmakers in the Louisiana Senate have approved an amended version of a House Bill aimed at reducing the state’s draconian penalties for marijuana possession, which currently could land an offender in jail for 20 years for possessing as little as a single joint.

The Senate voted 24 to 13 on Wednesday to approve House Bill 149, which was approved by the House in May, but changes made to the bill in the Senate will require a final House vote before being sent to Governor Bobby Jindal for approval.   The Senate has also

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Louisiana Medical Marijuana Bill Making Progress

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Wednesday afternoon, the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee approved a bill that is intended to stop the cruel criminalization of seriously ill patients who benefit from medical marijuana.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate with a 22-13 vote, now moves to the full House for a vote.

Senate Bill 143, filed by Sen. Fred Mills, Jr. (R), would amend a 1991 law that allows Louisiana’s physicians to prescribe medical marijuana in accordance with FDA and DEA guidelines. Since these guidelines don’t exist, this law has never…

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Louisiana Medical Marijuana Bill Clears Final Committee; Vote Expected Soon

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana is close to giving final approval to a bill that would give patients suffering from some serious conditions access to medical marijuana after a key House committee gave final approval to the bill Wednesday.

The House Committee on Health and Welfare proposed a few minor changes to the bill before voting 16-0 to send Senate Bill 143 — which was approved earlier this month by the Senate — to the Legislative Bureau for scheduling for a third reading and vote by the full House.

The amendments proposed by…

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Louisiana Senate Amends House Version of Marijuana Reform Bill

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Just one day after passing their own version of a bill to reduce the penalties for some marijuana convictions, lawmakers in the Louisiana Senate have amended  a similar proposal passed by the House, increasing the chances of one of the bills passing this year.

The Senate’s Judiciary Committee made the changes to House Bill 149 on Tuesday, which was approved by the House in May, making the two bills nearly identical.  The Senate’s version of the bill, Senate Bill 241, was approved by a floor vote in the Senate on…

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Louisiana Senate Approves Bill to Reform Draconian Marijuana Possession Law

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New Law Would Be Important Step Toward Reducing Louisiana’s Notoriously Overcrowded Prisons and Jails; Bill Now Heads to the House

BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana’s Senate took an important step toward reforming their state’s harsh marijuana possession law when they approved Senate Bill 241 by a vote of 27-12 Monday.

If passed, Louisiana would join the growing number of states that have recently reduced penalties for small amounts of marijuana.

“This is a long-sought opportunity to take a more compassionate and commonsense approach to…

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Louisiana Senate Passes Bill to Reduce Marijuana Penalties; Expunge Some Convictions

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BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana Senate voted Monday to reduce some marijuana penalties, and to allow for some offenders to have first-time marijuana convictions expunged from their records.  The measure now moves to the House, where a similar proposal has already been approved this session.

The Senate voted 27-12 on Monday to pass Senate Bill 241, sponsored by Senator J.P. Morrell (D-New Orleans) who says the proposal will treat penalties for marijuana convictions “in a way that is more humane.”

Currently, Louisiana is home to some…

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Louisiana Senate Committee Approves Bill to Reform Marijuana Possession Law

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Law Would Allow Second Chance for First-Time Offenders and Save Millions of Dollars

BATON ROUGE, LA — Lawmakers in Louisiana took a major step toward reforming the state’s harsh marijuana possession law when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to reform the state’s harsh marijuana possession law.

If House Bill 149 is passed, Louisiana would join the growing number of states that have recently reduced penalties for small amounts of marijuana.  The bill was passed by the House last week, and now heads to the full Senate for…

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Louisiana Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

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BATON ROUGE, LA — Lawmakers in the Louisiana Senate have approved a bill that would give patients suffering from some conditions access to medical marijuana.

The full Senate voted 22 to 13 with strong bi-partisan support on Monday to approve the proposal, sending the measure to the House for consideration.

The bill, Senate Bill 143, would allow the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules and regulations for dispensing medical marijuana statewide, and give the Department of Agriculture and Forestry oversight of marijuana cultivation…

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