SLS 17RS-3044 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 197
BY SENATOR MARTINY
POSTSECONDARY ED. Urges and requests certain state universities and research
entitities to pursue opportunities for research on the safety and clinical efficacy of
therapeutic marijuana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centers at New Orleans
3 and Shreveport, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Louisiana State
4 University and Southern University Agricultural Centers to pursue opportunities for
5 basic research, applied research, and clinical trials to evaluate the safety and clinical
6 efficacy of marijuana for therapeutic use.
7 WHEREAS, Act No. 96 of the 2016 Regular Session of the legislature authorizes
8 access to therapeutic marijuana for patients with specific debilitating conditions including
9 cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, cachexia
10 or wasting syndrome, seizure disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, Crohn's disease, muscular
11 dystrophy, or multiple sclerosis; and
12 WHEREAS, the populations of patients who have these conditions are particularly
13 vulnerable and include children, persons who are elderly, and others who are in great need
14 of consumer protections and quality healthcare; and
15 WHEREAS, a pronounced and growing need exists for development of national
16 standards for proper utilization, dosage levels, and other drug protocols for therapeutic
17 marijuana; and
18 WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration, referred to hereafter
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 197
SLS 17RS-3044 ORIGINAL
1 as the "FDA", has indicated that scientifically valid investigations and well-controlled
2 clinical trials which produce evidence-based research are necessary in order for the agency
3 to determine the safety and efficacy of marijuana for medical treatment; and
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners communicated a
5 similar position in this segment of a report concerning therapeutic marijuana that it issued
6 to the legislative committees on health and welfare in January of 2016: "In order to insure
7 the public health, safety, and welfare the board suggests that therapeutic marijuana. . . should
8 be subject to the same evidence-based review and regulatory oversight as other medications
9 prescribed by physicians. Indeed, only in this manner will the legislature, the board,
10 physicians, and the public be in a position to evaluate the efficacy of its use in connection
11 with a given disease or condition. To accomplish this task, it is necessary that the potentially
12 therapeutic chemicals in marijuana must be purified and tested in randomized, double-blind,
13 placebo-controlled clinical trials"; and
14 WHEREAS, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration currently
15 authorizes only one marijuana production facility in the nation, but has announced that it
16 intends to expand the number of authorized entities it will register to grow and distribute
17 marijuana for FDA-sanctioned research; and
18 WHEREAS, to date, the National Institutes of Health has awarded substantial grants
19 of funding for research on marijuana and potential medicinal applications of that substance,
20 and has indicated that it plans to continue funding such research efforts; and
21 WHEREAS, in addition to the growth in government-funded research on therapeutic
22 marijuana, opportunities for privately-sponsored research on this subject may also become
23 available.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
25 does hereby urge and request the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centers at New
26 Orleans and Shreveport, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Louisiana
27 State University and Southern University Agricultural Centers to pursue opportunities for
28 basic research, applied research, and clinical trials to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy
29 of marijuana for therapeutic use.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each state agency, board, or commission which
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 197
SLS 17RS-3044 ORIGINAL
1 is involved in production, dispensing, or otherwise regulating marijuana for therapeutic use
2 is hereby urged to collaborate in efforts to pursue research opportunities called for in this
3 Resolution.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
5 chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, the
6 chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, the
7 executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the vice president for
8 agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture of Louisiana State University, and the
9 chancellor-dean of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SR 197 Original 2017 Regular Session Martiny
Requests the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centers at New Orleans and
Shreveport, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Louisiana State University
and Southern University Agricultural Centers to pursue opportunities for basic research,
applied research, and clinical trials to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of marijuana
for therapeutic use.
Page 3 of 3