Tag: Laboratories

Justice Breaks Ground On New State Lab

Dignitaries broke ground Tuesday on a new consolidated state laboratory in South Charleston.

Alongside fellow state leaders, Gov. Jim Justice broke ground on a new state laboratory on Tuesday.

The West Virginia Regional Technology Park is expanding to include the new $250 million West Virginia consolidated state laboratories facility.

Funds for the 300,000-square-foot facility were appropriated by the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 through Senate Bill 1031.

“This is truly a great day for West Virginia as we start turning our dream of a brand new state laboratory into a reality,” Justice said. “When it’s finished, this facility will provide the space and resources many of our state agencies need to properly serve the people of West Virginia. This will make a huge difference and promote collaboration because so many great people from our state agencies will be working together under the same roof. This isn’t just an investment in a new building. This is an investment in the future of our state, and I’m very thankful to see it happen. Finally, I want to thank the West Virginia Regional Tech Park for their efforts in making sure our needs are met during this process.”

Design work is set to conclude by early 2025 and construction is anticipated to be completed by 2027.

When complete, the facility will house the Department of Health’s Office of Laboratory Services, the Division of Labor’s Office of Weights and Measures, the State Police and the Department of Homeland Security forensics lab and the State Medical Examiner. 

According to a press release, the facility will also include labs from Marshall University and West Virginia University.

The Department of Administration will operate the facility in cooperation with all of these tenants and the tech park.

W.Va. To Accept Medical Marijuana Lab Permits Indefinitely

Efforts to provide qualifying West Virginians with medical cannabis are underway with new developments, three years after the Medical Cannabis Act was signed into law. 

The West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis is accepting permit applications for medical cannabis labs after previously closing this process on Feb. 18.            

Medical cannabis processors, dispensaries, growers and labs had two months to submit applications, but according to the Office of Cannabis, only one lab applied for a permit during that period: Microbac Laboratories in Charleston. 

The office will accept applications indefinitely, and there will not be a limit on the number of lab permits, according to a press release.

“This is a key step in the process to make medical cannabis available to West Virginians with serious medical conditions,” said Jason Frame, director of the Office of Medical Cannabis.

Labs are where marijuana is tested for quality control and potency, a vital part of distributing medical marijuana, according to the Association of Public Health Laboratories. 

West Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Act was signed into law in April 2017, with the goal of distributing within two years. State Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch estimates the program will be fully operational by spring 2021.

West Virginia physicians were permitted on May 28 to begin the registration process to treat patients within the state who require medical marijuana.

The Office of Medical Cannabis has not yet released the number of physicians who have since applied. Physicians are required to complete the ‘West Virginia Medical Cannabis Program,’ which is $189.

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