The H & W Drug Store Story

In 2017, H & W Drug Store, Inc. embarked on a new undertaking in pursuit of an alternative treatment option involving the Medical Marijuana healthcare industry.  H & W’s primary focus was and always is to provide our patients with the best pharmaceutical healthcare available.

After a very competitive process, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy (LBP) selected the H & W Drug Store, Inc. team to operate the first Medical Marijuana Pharmacy in the Metropolitan Region of the State of Louisiana. H & W’s Region 1 services Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes. The LBP subsequently awarded 9 permits to regions throughout the State of Louisiana.

H & W Drug Store has been locally owned and operated for over 50 years.  H&W Drug Store was started in the Lower 9th Ward in 1963 by Sterling J. Henry, Sr. and Wesley J. Watkins, at Caffin Avenue and North Galvez Street. In 1990, Mr. Watkins passed away. In 1999, Mr. Sterling J. Henry retired and his son, Ruston Henry, Sr. took over the business and is the current owner and Chief Pharmacist. 

H & W currently operates 3 traditional retail pharmacies in the New Orleans Metro area. 

H & W re-opened November 1, 2011, in the USA Market in New Orleans East after being temporarily closed due to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.  On August 27, 2018, H & W relocated to its current location at 7240 Crowder Blvd in New Orleans East.  This location is H & W’s first stand-alone pharmacy since re-opening Post-Katrina. 

H & W opened its second retail pharmacy location in the Budget Saver grocery store located at 1951 Barataria Blvd in Marrero, LA on March 26, 2014.  

In February of 2020, H & W opened a retail pharmacy location inside the iconic Circle Food Store located at 1522 St Bernard Avenue in New Orleans, LA.

H & W currently operates the ONLY medical marijuana dispensary in the New Orleans Metro area. 

On August 12, 2019, H & W Drug Store opened the Medical Marijuana Dispensary, which services the New Orleans Metro area.  This pharmacy provides quality care for many patients in need of alternative holistic treatment options.  The program WAS initially limited to patients with qualifying medical conditions such as Autism, Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Chronic or Intractable Pain, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Spasticity, and Seizure Disorders.  These are still common conditions treated by medical marijuana.

HOWEVER, on August 1, 2020, the Louisiana Medical Marijuana program expanded to allow ANY physician licensed in Louisiana to recommend medical marijuana to a patient for ANY medical condition deemed to be debilitating to the patient.

H & W Drug Store will continue to provide best-in-class healthcare to our customers while staying true to our long tradition of fast, friendly, and courteous service.