Southern University Selects Medical Marijuana Supplier

Southern University has announced Advanced Biomedics, LLC as the vendor for its medical marijuana program. Former Gov. Bobby Jindal passed a bill allowing the production of medical marijuana in 2015, permitting LSU and Southern University to manage growing operations. In order for the bill to actually be implemented, it underwent a major overhaul and was passed in 2016 by Gov. John Bel Edwards. This past June, LSU chose Las Vegas-based vendor GB Sciences, Inc. to head production in a $10 million contract. Seven purveyors submitted have been competing for the contract with Southern. Last Friday, the university’s Board of Supervisors chose the Lafayette-based company, who will receive over $6 million over a 5-year period. Current laws do not allow the vaporization (smoking) of medical marijuana, allowing it to only be sold as oils, pills, sprays and topical applications. Advanced Biomedics will produce pharmaceutical grade marijuana that will become available to patients who suffer from cancer, MS, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, spasticity, Chrohn’s disease, HIV/AIDS, and cachexia.