2021 Legislative Update - Medical Marijuana

Slowly but surely, the Louisiana Legislature is taking steps impacting marijuana accessibility to the public. Act 424 of the 2021 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session amended La. R.S. 40:1046.

That statute had previously provided that doctors “in good standing” with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and licensed to practice in Louisiana could recommend marijuana for use by a patient “clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition.” The amendments to this statute removed the restriction on marijuana in a form that could be inhaled but limited the amount that could be dispensed by any pharmacy so authorized:

(5)(a) No pharmacy authorized to dispense marijuana for therapeutic use in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall dispense more than to and one-half ounces, or seventy-one grams, of raw or crude marijuana every fourteen days to any individual patient.

(b) No pharmacy authorized to dispense marijuana for therapeutic use in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall dispense raw or crude marijuana. to any person under twenty-one years of age without a recommendation from a physician specifically recommending marijuana in raw or crude form for that person."

If you or someone you know is facing prosecution related to marijuana, give us a call at (318) 459-9111 to set up a consult.