The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy is hearing pitches today from two applicants—Capitol Wellness Solutions and Green Magnolia Rx—vying for the permit for the only licensed medical marijuana dispensary in the Baton Rouge area.
The state will initially allow 10 pharmacies to hold medical marijuana licenses, with nine of those assigned to designated regions. The tenth licensee will be determined at a later date, depending on which region shows the highest demand.
Capitol Wellness Solutions, which has signed a lease for a space on Picardy Avenue near Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, is the first contender for Region 2, according to the board agenda. The firm is owned by Randy Mire, CEO of Gem Drugs, which has two locations in Reserve and Gramercy.
Former Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie would serve as head of security for the facility, while Prescriptions to Geaux owner T.J. Woodard would operate the pharmacy. The other applicant is Green Magnolia Rx.
The agricultural centers of LSU and Southern University have partnered with private firms to grow the medical marijuana, which is expected to be available—in the form of oil, pills, sprays or topical applications—at licensed pharmacies by late summer.
Patients with 10 conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders and multiple sclerosis could already purchase the substance, and last week’s passage of House Bill 579 by Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, would add glaucoma, severe muscle spasms, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of conditions. The bill must still be approved by the Senate.
Today’s meeting began at 8 a.m. and is expected to last until 6 p.m. The board reconvenes Wednesday for another daylong meeting.
