GB Sciences Louisiana, the company hired to grow medical marijuana for the LSU AgCenter, passed its background checks and now has approval to move into its main facility and start full production effective immediately, state regulators said Friday (March 22).

The inspection of the main facility’s manufacturing area will be conducted by the LDAF and the Department of Health on March 27.

Production of the long-awaited product has been held up by a public feud between the grower, LSU AgCenter and Mike Strain, the commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The most recent delay centered around whether or not GB Sciences started moving marijuana plants inside two rooms in their permanent facility before they had received proper approval from state regulators.

The LDAF said that GB Sciences LA had to pass “suitability,” which includes criminal and financial background checks, before its employees could work inside of the main grow facility in Baton Rouge without LSU AgCenter having a staffer on site.

Last summer, GB Sciences LA was asked to grow and harvest the plants inside a secure temporary pod outside their main facility while they awaited all of the necessary approvals from state regulators. [Read more at The Times-Picayune]