NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana's medical marijuana program took another big step today.
According to The New Orleans Advocate, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy handed out its first licence for a medical marijuana pharmacy, giving the owners of H&W Drug Store permission to dispense the drug to the greater New Orleans area.
The decision for the New Orleans-area pharmacy came after a lengthy and contentious hearing where the five remaining applicants vied for the area's one permit. In the end, H&W Drug Store owner Ruston Henry and his brother, Troy Henry, won the board's confidence.
Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation in 2016 to authorize a medical marijuana program. Production is expected to begin later this year.
The program will be tightly regulated and only allow patients with a handful of serious diseases to get non-smokable forms of the drug.