Solicitation 2: Therapeutic Marijuana Pharmacy Application

In accordance with LAC:46.LIII.24.E.2445 when the Board is prepared to receive and process applications for and issue therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permits, it shall publish on its internet web site, and in such other places as the Board deems appropriate, a notice to that effect.

Maximum number of permits to be awarded:

The enabling legislation placed a limit on the number of therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permits, such that no more than ten such primary permits may be active at the same time. The Board previously awarded one permit per region for a total of nine active permits.

As mandated by the Louisiana Legislature, the Board will issue an additional permit to the region with the highest population density as of August 1, 2022.  The highest population density region has been identified as LDH Region 1.

This solicitation invites applications for a therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permit for LDH Region 1 consisting of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. A separate application is required for each physical location you wish to have considered.

The Board shall consider the status of an applicant as a minority, woman, or veteran-owned business as a primary factor in awarding a permit in accordance with La. R.S. 40:1046.G.1

Information on how to obtain an application and acceptable methods for submitting an application:

Applications may be completed and submitted with required attachments through the Board’s Online Services Portal. The following steps should be completed.

1. Prior to completing your online application, review the application text by clicking here.
2. Prepare all application information and attachments.
3. Visit https://secure.pharmacy.la.gov/ .
4. Register a new account for each physical location you will submit an application for.
5. After receiving your verification email, login.
6. Follow the prompts to complete the setup for this new account.
7. Click “Create / Resume an Application”.
8. Select the Application for Therapeutic Marijuana Pharmacy. (Available August 4, 2022)

Applications and attachments must be submitted through the Online Services Portal. Applications and attachments submitted by any other method will not be processed.

The deadline for receipt of applications:

The deadline for the receipt of applications in response to this solicitation is Midnight on September 4, 2022.

Preferred locations, if any, for the therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permits:

LDH Region 1 consisting of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. Separate applications are required for each physical address. The Board has not designated any preferred locations within the region; it is expected the applicant will perform due diligence in their choice of location for the marijuana pharmacy which must be declared on the application.

The Board shall consider any unserved parishes within the region when approving a satellite location or additional marijuana pharmacy for licensure in accordance with La. R.S. 40:1046.G.3(d).

No therapeutic marijuana pharmacy shall locate within a fifteen-mile radius of another marijuana pharmacy.

In a region that encompasses any parish with a population of more than three hundred fifty thousand persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, no therapeutic marijuana pharmacy shall locate within a ten-mile radius of another therapeutic marijuana pharmacy.

In a region that encompasses any municipality with a population of more than three hundred fifty thousand persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, no therapeutic marijuana pharmacy shall locate within a five-mile radius of another therapeutic marijuana pharmacy.

The currently permitted therapeutic marijuana pharmacy in LDH Region 1 is located at 1667 Tchoupitoulas St Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70130.

The proposed therapeutic marijuana pharmacy satellite location for LDH Regions 1 is 5055 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70006. 

Criteria that shall be considered in awarding the therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permit:

Board’s Application Review Committee shall consider the following criteria in their consideration of the applications:

1. The character and fitness of the owner’s managing officer, the pharmacist-in-charge, any of the owners and any other person who may have control or influence over the operation of the proposed marijuana pharmacy;
2. The location for the proposed marijuana pharmacy including, but not limited to:
   whether the patient population in the area proposed by the marijuana pharmacy permit applicant justifies the need for a marijuana pharmacy, or an additional marijuana pharmacy, in that area; its proximity to previously approved marijuana pharmacies or locations of proposed marijuana pharmacies with pending applications; whether the proximity of the proposed marijuana pharmacy will have a detrimental effect upon any place used primarily for religious worship, public or private school, convent, charitable institution, whether supported by private or public funds, hospital or veterans’ home or any camp or military establishment; or whether the number of marijuana pharmacies in the locality is such that the granting of a permit is detrimental to the public interest. In reaching a conclusion in this respect, the Board may consider the population of, the number of like permits and number of all permits in existent, the particular municipality and the immediate neighborhood or on like permits existent in such municipality or neighborhood.
3. The extent to which the applicant or any of the applicant’s owners have a financial interest in any other permittee, licensee, registrant, or other applicant currently or previously credentialed by the Board; and
4. Any other reason provided by any federal law or rule or state law or rule that is not inconsistent with the enabling legislation at La. R.S. 40:1046 and 1047 or the Board’s rules.

Solicitation Amendments:

Following the deadline for receipt of applications, the Board shall evaluate each complete and timely submitted application and award the therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permit on a competitive basis based on the criteria set out in this notice. In the event the Board determines there are an insufficient number of qualified applicants that the Board has determined are desirable to award the therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permit, the Board may republish a notice of open applications for the therapeutic marijuana pharmacy permit.

The Board shall have the right to amend the notice of open applications prior to the deadline for submitting an application. Such amended notice shall be published in the same manner as the original notice of open applications.

The Board shall have the right to cancel a notice of open applications prior to the award of the marijuana pharmacy permit.