Robert Celt
New Member
A study paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association finds medical marijuana use could be a 200 to 330 million dollar industry, if the state loosens its restrictions on who could use the prescription drug.
Spokesperson Jesse McCormick says under current law only about 4-thousand people can be legally prescribed medical marijuana. He says if medical marijuana was also available to those with chronic pain and other serious ailments, the number of eligible patients increases to as much as 105-thousand.
"It was time to see what kind of market is out there, and this is an industry that exists in a lot of states in our country and a lot of places are utilizing it for tax revenue for helping patients," said McCormick.
Even though the dispensing of medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, it could be another couple of years before it's available. There is legislation in this session that would allow those with chronic pain, HIV, seizure and spasm disorders to also use the drug once it becomes available. McCormick says the study shows how many people could actually benefit from medical cannabis.
"Let's say you keep a kid from having 200 or 300 seizures a month and maybe you reduce the time he or she goes to the emergency room," McCormick said. "You're absolutely saving health care dollars."
The study also shows medical marijuana could generate between 5 and 13-million dollars in tax revenue, if a four percent tax was placed on the sale of the product.
"We're raising sales taxes on things from girl scout cookies to YMCA memberships, it makes a lot of sense, in our mind, to look at something that almost 30 other states are doing," added McCormick.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Could Medical Marijuana Be A Multi Million Dollar Industry For Louisiana?
Author: Staff
Contact: WWL
Photo Credit: None found
Website: WWL
Spokesperson Jesse McCormick says under current law only about 4-thousand people can be legally prescribed medical marijuana. He says if medical marijuana was also available to those with chronic pain and other serious ailments, the number of eligible patients increases to as much as 105-thousand.
"It was time to see what kind of market is out there, and this is an industry that exists in a lot of states in our country and a lot of places are utilizing it for tax revenue for helping patients," said McCormick.
Even though the dispensing of medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, it could be another couple of years before it's available. There is legislation in this session that would allow those with chronic pain, HIV, seizure and spasm disorders to also use the drug once it becomes available. McCormick says the study shows how many people could actually benefit from medical cannabis.
"Let's say you keep a kid from having 200 or 300 seizures a month and maybe you reduce the time he or she goes to the emergency room," McCormick said. "You're absolutely saving health care dollars."
The study also shows medical marijuana could generate between 5 and 13-million dollars in tax revenue, if a four percent tax was placed on the sale of the product.
"We're raising sales taxes on things from girl scout cookies to YMCA memberships, it makes a lot of sense, in our mind, to look at something that almost 30 other states are doing," added McCormick.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Could Medical Marijuana Be A Multi Million Dollar Industry For Louisiana?
Author: Staff
Contact: WWL
Photo Credit: None found
Website: WWL
