Photo by Kelly
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Louisiana?
Medical marijuana is currently legal in Louisiana for qualified medical marijuana patients. Patients must have a qualifying medical condition approved by the state and fit certain criteria that will be reviewed in this post. The process can be simple but how can you get your medical marijuana card in Louisiana?
People often think of New Orleans as a no holds barred city but that does not mean that the whole state is that way. For example, currently recreational cannabis is not legal in Louisiana at all. However, some CBD, delta-8, and delta-9 products which can be used recreationally are legal.
This can all be a bit confusing so this article will review all of the important information regarding the current legal status of medical marijuana and other cannabis-like products. It will also give you an important update on potential legal changes to medical marijuana in the state, how you can simply get your medical marijuana card and other important information so you can stay informed.
Before we review how to get your medical marijuana card in Louisiana, let’s quickly review the laws at work in the Bayou state.
[fl_builder_insert_layout id=13138]
Louisiana Medical Marijuanas Laws in 2024
Data is still unclear on whether cannabis was criminalized in 1924 or 1927, due to conflicting reports, however, like many states, Louisiana had rather strict laws regarding cannabis. While some states have been quick to decriminalize cannabis or legalize medical marijuana some states have had to roll back some of their stricter laws.
In 2015, Governor Bobby Jindal signed HB149 into law which decriminalized small amounts of cannabis possession. Rather than facing jail time, someone would simply face a $100 fine. That same year, Jindal also signed SB143 which legalized medical marijuana and began the infrastructure for the program.
There can be delays and issues that limit medical marijuana because the state needs infrastructure in order to diagnose patients, dispense cannabis, and decide who can legally grow it. It would not be until 2019 that the first medical marijuana was dispensed in the state.
In 2022, Louisiana published the full Medical Marijuana Regulation. Act 491 further outlined some of these processes including streamlining the application and renewal processes for patients and expanded the list of qualifying medical conditions.
Act 492 enhanced patient rights and protections while also covering certain gaps in the infrastructure. Act 628 expanded some of the compliance measures for the supply chain. This included regulations over producers, distributors, and healthcare providers focusing on patient safety and product integrity.
The medical marijuana statute (La. R.S. 40: 1046) outlines the qualifying conditions, the rights and responsibilities of patients, and the regulatory requirements for physicians and dispensaries.
Some 2024 legal updates to medical marijuana law in Louisiana include Republican Governor. Jeff Landry signing House Bill 165 (HB165) into law which removed outdated laws where possessing cannabis paraphernalia was punishable by up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine which was reduced to a $100 fine. This law took effect August 1, 2024.
Landry also signed (SB 228) which expanded the cultivation of medical marijuana to private commercial entities. The only cultivators of medical marijuana in the state were cultivated by two public universities: LSU and Southern University.
Cannabis laws are constantly changing as states make changes throughout the country. Additionally, time will tell if the US makes any federal changes to laws. Now that we’ve covered the law let’s look at the requirements and limitations.
Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card Requirements & Limitations:
Currently the only limitations for getting your medical marijuana card are the following:
- You must be a resident of Louisiana.
- A medical marijuana doctor licensed by and in good standing with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners must issue a marijuana recommendation.
- You must be at least 18 years old to qualify for medical marijuana as an adult.
- You must have a qualifying medical condition or the opinion from your doctor that medical marijuana is right for you.
Green Health Docs has local doctors on hand who can help you with this process.
What Illnesses Qualifies For Medical Marijuanas in Louisiana?
The following are qualifying medical conditions in Louisiana that qualify for medical marijuana:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (specific symptoms related to cannabis diagnosis include:)
- Repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized.
- Avoidance of others or inability to communicate of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized.
- Self-injuring behavior.
- Physically aggressive or destructive behavior.
- Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Intractable Pain (defined as “pain so chronic or severe as to otherwise warrant an opiate prescription”)
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Seizure Disorders/Spasticity
- Severe Muscle Spasms
- Any other condition not otherwise specified “that a physician, in his medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through his medical education and training to treat”
New legislation allows for certain conditions to be at the doctor’s discretion. If your doctor “considers [the condition to be] debilitating to an individual patient” and the doctor “is qualified through [their] medical education and training to treat” they can prescribe cannabis for conditions beyond the diagnoses listed above. For example, a patient could be eligible for medical marijuana for ADHD in Louisiana if their doctor deems it necessary.
Autism is a special case because it qualifies if it involves risks to the person’s physical health or the health of others like in the symptoms listed above. Minors with autism only qualify if the recommending physician consults with a pediatric subspecialist.
Photo by Kelly
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana
Getting your medical marijuana card in Louisiana is a fairly simple process. With Green Health Docs the process can go even more smoothly.
1. Schedule An Appointment With Green Health Docs.
Schedule an appointment by filling out this form or call/text at 240-356-1000.
2. Meet with Your Provider.
Your doctor will review your symptoms. If approved, your provider will fax your certification to the dispensary of your choosing that day.
3. Patients can immediately visit the dispensary to set up their account and purchase products.
The entire process can often happen the same day as your approval by a provider and the process can take 24 hours max.
Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card FAQs
This section reviews common questions for medical marijuana patients in Louisiana.
Does Medicaid Cover Medical Marijuanas In Louisiana?
No, currently given the federal legal status of cannabis most health insurance companies do not cover medical marijuana except in some states where legislation is in place. There are a few insurers who cover medical marijuana but they are few and far between.
How Much Is A Medical Marijuana Card In Louisiana?
There is no extra cost for a medical marijuana recommendation in Louisiana. However, there are costs to seeing a provider in order to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation. Some states also have an added fee to get a card or license but not in Louisiana.
Can You Smoke Weed In New Orleans?
Smoking weed has been decriminalized in New Orleans. Decriminalization is not legalization. This simply means that you are not likely to face heavy criminal charges and you may not be stopped by police.
However, you may still receive a ticket or citation for smoking. Medical marijuana recommendations cover you smoking medical cannabis in your home but you are still in violation of the law smoking in public.
Can I Grow My Own Medical Marijuana In Louisiana?
Currently, only licensed cultivators can grow medical marijuana. That could change but there are no laws on the books allowing medical marijuana patients to grow their own cannabis plants in Louisiana.
As mentioned above, only recently has Louisiana expanded medical marijuana cultivation from their two main sources of legal medical marijuana so it may be some time before this changes.
Final Thoughts
Contrary to the devil may care reputation of New Orleans, Louisiana is still fairly conservative regarding marijuana law. Some changes have created a fairly robust medical marijuana program and has allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis for a myriad of conditions and put the decision at their discretion. That is fairly progressive compared to other states.
If you think medical marijuana can help you with your symptoms or health issues by all means seek out a doctor. Green Health Docs has approved physicians available to help you decide and make the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card in Louisiana quick and easy.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.