BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU and Southern University both want to begin growing marijuana for medical use.

The boards of both schools approved plans Friday to pursue licensing, local media report, making them the sole growers and researchers for the state.

This spring, the Louisiana Legislature widened the state's medical marijuana laws, making the treatment available to a wider range of people.

LSU plans to seek private funding for what could by a $10 million production center. Bill Richardson, LSU's vice president for agriculture, says marijuana oil, to be sold to designated pharmacies, is unlikely to be available in Louisiana until 2018.

Richardson says university officials believe they can meet security requirements and retain federal funding. He says LSU could become a leader in research on the medicinal properties and cultivation of marijuana.

 

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