On the job: Newly-elected Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, has been sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives. The Associated Press reports Jordan, a Port Allen-based lawyer, arrives in the House with only two weeks remaining in the regular legislative session, but a likely June special session on taxes is expected. Jordan was elected earlier this month to fill the seat left vacant by the recent death of Ronnie Edwards. His district includes parts of north Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge Parish. He defeated four other candidates to win the position.
Patented: Baton Rouge-based OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals has received a patent to protect technology it has created for targeted cancer treatment. The firm says the technology provides an innovative approach to chemotherapy for cancer patients and does a better job targeting tumor cells while reducing toxicity to healthy cells, which can cause complications ranging from inflammation to death of a patient. OncBioMune CEO Dr. Jonathan Head says the company also is preparing to enter into phase two trials of ProscaVax, a prostate cancer vaccine. Read the full release.
Piece of the pie: Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have agreed to give the agriculture department up to 7% of the revenue from sales of medical marijuana to pay for agency costs of regulating the drug. The Associated Press reports the bill by Rep. Major Thibaut, D-New Roads, also includes a list of fees the agriculture department would charge the medicinal plant’s state-sanctioned grower, including a $10,000 application fee. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says he needs the money to cover costs of up to $700,000 annually. The proposal now heads to the Senate for debate, after winning House passage with a 67-21 vote Monday. Estimates are the state is 18 months to two years away from medical marijuana sales. The grower and distributors haven’t been chosen.
