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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have agreed to give the agriculture department up to 7 percent of the revenue from sales of medical marijuana, to pay for agency costs of regulating the drug.
The bill by Rep. Major Thibaut, a New Roads Democrat, also includes a list of fees the agriculture department would charge the medicinal plant's state-sanctioned grower, including a $100,000 annual incense fee and a $10,000 application fee.
Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says he needs the money to cover costs up to $700,000 annually.
The proposal heads to the Senate for debate, after winning House passage with a 67-21 vote Monday.
Estimates are the state is 18 months to two years away from medical marijuana sales. The grower and distributors haven't been chosen.
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House Bill 1099: www.legis.la.gov
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