State agriculture regulators have cleared Louisiana's first batch of medical marijuana for release to pharmacies, ending months of delays getting the product cleared for patients.

John Davis, the head GB Sciences Louisiana, said medical marijuana will be released to pharmacies on Tuesday and that's when the first patients can get access to the drug.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry said Thursday evening it completed testing of a random sample of the marijuana tincture, which was produced by LSU and its contractor, GB Sciences.

"We are pleased to announce that LSU-GBSL's final medical marijuana product has passed all testing and is cleared for immediate release to the medical marijuana pharmacies,” Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain said in a statement.

Medical marijuana in Louisiana possibly a week away from pharmacy shelves as final testing begins Regulators have begun the final stage of testing of Louisiana’s first batch of medical marijuana, announcing Monday the medicine could be made…

Louisiana House votes to let medical marijuana patients 'inhale cannabis,' but not smoke it The Louisiana House today voted 82-0 to allow medical marijuana patients to inhale cannabis, sending the bill to the governor’s desk for final…

Strain said he looks forward to working with LSU and Southern University, the only other licensed grower in the state, on the coming phases of each school's marijuana operation.

Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation four years ago that authorized medical marijuana, but various delays have kept the medicine from reaching patients.

The announcement by the agriculture department means GB Sciences and LSU are able to send the marijuana tincture bottles to nine medical marijuana pharmacies in various regions throughout the state. The product will cost between $90 and $200 a bottle at the Baton Rouge pharmacy depending on the formulation.

Lawmakers back excluding medical marijuana from sales taxes, redirecting fees to disabled Lawmakers have backed several changes to the state’s taxes and fees on medical marijuana, passing a bill that excludes the drug from sales tax…

“This has been a longtime coming. This is for all the patients, advocates, elected officials, two universities, department staff, employees, volunteers and anyone who took the risk to make this historic undertaking a reality. It is a great day for Louisiana. We couldn’t be more proud," said Jesse McCormick, executive director of Louisiana Association for Therapeutic Alternatives.

MORE COVERAGE:

Southern University plants first seeds in medical marijuana endeavor After lengthy delays in Southern University’s medical marijuana program, the school and a private company it hired to run the growing operatio…