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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ,oF ioo�% DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> ,��� LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> m rr,, r �'• P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> Crz , BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> �,F____ ,�`� (225)219-5600 <br /> , FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.la.gov <br /> July 23, 2018 <br /> Kevin LaGrange <br /> 107 Kentville Circle <br /> Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2018-708 <br /> Dear Mr. LaGrange: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics,at its July 20,2018 meeting,considered your request for an advisory <br /> opinion regarding whether you,as the Pharmacist in Charge of a newly-issued Marijuana Pharmacy <br /> Permit,may serve as a board member on the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and whether there would <br /> be any matters requiring your recusal if you are appointed to such position. You are seeking <br /> appointment to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy District 7. The qualifications for a pharmacist <br /> member of the Board of Pharmacy at the time of appointment, per La. R.S. 37:1174, require the <br /> person be currently licensed to engage in the practice of pharmacy in the state, and be actively <br /> engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state. The board member may practice in and own a <br /> Louisiana-permitted pharmacy among other requirements. The grounds for removal of a board <br /> member of the Louisiana Board of pharmacy include the misuse of office to obtain personal, <br /> pecuniary, or material gain or advantage for himself or another through such office as stated in La. <br /> R.S. 37:1176A(2). <br /> You are employed by a privately-owned pharmacy in Lafayette,which is within the region of District <br /> 7. You do not have any ownership interest in it. The pharmacy that employs you has been granted <br /> a medical Marijuana Pharmacy Permit and you have been designated as the"Pharmacist in Charge." <br /> You stated that you were required to obtain a Therapeutic Marijuana(TM)designation as is required <br /> of any employee working within the medical marijuana industry. This required a finger printing <br /> process at the State Police Headquarters and a criminal background check which is on file at the <br /> Board of Pharmacy. <br /> You stated that Eric Vidrine,Rph has been designated as the"Owner's Managing Officer"of your <br /> employing pharmacy,which is the person designated by the pharmacy to be responsible to the Board <br /> of Pharmacy for the proper operation of the pharmacy in compliance with all applicable laws and <br /> regulations. You stated that annual renewal of all pharmacy permits are renewed through the Board <br /> of Pharmacy and this requirement is not limited to only individuals who are in possession of <br /> Marijuana Pharmacy Permits.While the Pharmacist in Charge designation does not require an annual <br /> renewal with the Board of Pharmacy, you will be responsible for the annual renewal of your <br /> individual pharmacy permit as all practicing/active pharmacists are required to renew <br /> licenses/permits annually through the Board of Pharmacy. <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />