BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) " The dean of Southern University's agricultural college has resigned as it's entering into Louisiana's medical marijuana market.

News outlets report Bobby Phills resigned Friday as chancellor-dean of the university's agricultural college and its Agricultural Research and Extension Center, or Ag Center. It's unclear why Phills resigned.

University Communications Director Janene Tate confirmed Phills' resignation Monday evening. She declined to comment on his reasons for departing.

Tate says Southern's executive vice president and executive vice chancellor, James Ammons, will guide the agricultural college and the Ag Center in the interim. She says a search for Phills' replacement hasn't started yet.

Only Southern's Ag Center and the one at Louisiana State University are allowed to grow therapeutic cannabis in the state. It's unclear how Phills' resignation could affect the program.