The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, together with Ilera Holistic Healthcare, have releases a line of THC medical cannabis products. Making Southern University the first historically Black university to launch its own THC medical cannabis products.
BATON ROUGE, La. —The Southern University
Agricultural Research and Extension Center, part of the Southern University
System, together with Ilera Holistic Healthcare (Ilera Holistic), today became
the nation’s first historically Black university (HBCU) to launch its own THC
medical cannabis products. The university holds one of two cannabis
licenses in the state of Louisiana. The launch of this historic brand, called
AYO, comes on the heels of Louisiana’s unprecedented extension in June of its
own medical marijuana program.
“This is yet another great and historic day for the Southern
University Agricultural Research and Extension Center,” said Orlando McMeans,
chancellor of the Ag Center. “The goal of this program is to provide quality
medicine for the citizens of the state of Louisiana through education, research
and outreach, all of which are included in the mission of the Ag Center. The
release of AYO, along with our CBD products, will enable us to help patients
better manage their medical issues and improve their quality of life.”
The
AYO line joins the ALAFIA product brand, a hemp-derived tincture developed by
Southern and Ilera. ALAFIA launched on January 25 in the Louisiana
market, making Southern University the first HBCU producer in both cannabis and
hemp. ALAFIA will be available online nationwide later this summer.
“With the launch of both CBD and THC medical
marijuana products, Southern continues to set precedents in innovation,” said
Ray L. Belton, president of the Southern University System. “In addition to
providing healthcare options for Louisiana residents, our valued partner,
Ilera, is able to hire local talent. All of this impacts our state’s economy
directly while expanding the Southern University brand.”
Southern’s medical marijuana program is part of the
Ag Center’s Southern Institute for Medicinal Plants, helmed by Janana Snowden,
the institute’s director and an assistant professor of agriculture at Southern
University Baton Rouge. The institute and Ag Center have long researched plants
such as hibiscus in addition to cannabis.
“The very important research we conduct on medicinal plants
helps us to address health problems that affect communities,” Snowden said.
“Our products derived from medicinal plants offer patients another way to
alleviate symptoms. We are proud that we can be part of many potential
solutions.”
AYO has been launched at a time that Louisiana has
expanded laws to potentially allow more patients to choose medical marijuana
for treatment. On June 11, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law ACT No 286,
allowing any state-licensed physician to recommend medical marijuana to any of
their patients to find relief for any condition.
“ACT No 286 makes clear that Louisiana residents
want full access to medical cannabis and the right to discuss alternative
healthcare options with their doctors,” said Chanda Macias, chief executive
officer for Ilera Holistic Healthcare. “We are grateful to the entire state
legislature in welcoming our input throughout the long history of this bill and
listening to the voices of our patients, advocates, doctors and industry
colleagues. We had one common goal, which was to bring greater access to
medicine for all patients in our great state.”
AYO is scientifically formulated, lab tested,
pesticide free, and only available in the state of Louisiana. To learn more
about AYO and cannabis medicine, please visit www.ileraholistichealthcare.com.
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