BATON ROUGE - Southern University has been granted a cultivation license to develop pharmaceutical grade medicines from marijuana plants. 

Dr. Janana Snowden, Director of SIMP, stated that the Institute’s research will focus on natural product development and usage to address the major health issues.

“Quality medicine is the goal of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s medical marijuana program. We will develop medicines that can alleviate some of the pain associated with these debilitating illnesses,” said Dr. Bobby R. Phills, Chancellor-Dean of the SU Ag Center and SU College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences.

Cancer, HIV/AIDS, cachexia or wasting syndrome, seizure disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, Crohn's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis are all illnesses that can be legally treated with medical marijuana in the state of Louisiana.

Seven vendors have submitted applications to become the medical marijuana cultivator of Southern. Upon review from an evaluation committee, the names of the finalists will be submitted to the Southern University Board of Supervisors for review and approval.