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BATON ROUGE – The House Health and Welfare Committee approves legislation that would move regulation of the state’s medical-marijuana program from the state’s agriculture department to the Louisiana Department of Health. Houma Representative Tanner Magee’s measure is in response to criticism the ag department has hindered medical marijuana availability.
“I think once we do that, I think you’ll have a much better regulatory environment for the program, it will increase the amount of product available, it will lead to a much better, stronger program overall,” said Magee.
Magee says the legislation allows L-D-H to contract with private labs to streamline the testing of medical cannabis. His legislation also allows for more medical marijuana pharmacies up from nine to 20.
“We need more access and I think people have seen that the people want more access, what we are trying to do is increase the amount of pharmacy space, increase the pharmacy locations,” said Magee.
The bill heads to the House floor for more discussion. But there are medical marijuana patients who believe the bill doesn’t go far enough to help with the supply, access, and cost of medical cannabis. Veteran Tony Landry expressed his concerns.
‘Many of the veterans can’t even come afford to here and do what I’m doing today, they can’t afford the medicine, this bill all it’s going to do is seal the deal for the current monopoly,” said Landry.
The legislation doesn’t increase the number of licensed growers and pharmacy operators. The bill will allow licensed pharmacy operators to open more than one location.
louisianaradionetwork.com/2022/04/19/the-house-health-and-welfare-committee-approves-legislation-designed-to-expand-the-states-medical-marijuana-program/
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