Louisiana legalized medicinal cannabis in 1978 when state lawmakers passed legislation to allow doctors to prescribe it to patients with certain conditions. But with a lack of a regulatory system and fearing the loss of their federal licenses from handing out prescriptions for marijuana, physicians chose not to prescribe it.
Later, other states would enact legislation that allowed doctors to recommend medicinal cannabis for patients rather than giving them a prescription, sidestepping federal restrictions and falling into the category of protected free speech under the First Amendment.
Nearly four decades later, Louisiana legislators passed SB271 in 2016, a bill that permitted people diagnosed with one or more specific debilitating medical conditions to use cannabis. On the list were several conditions including Crohn’s disease, seizure disorders, cancer, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cachexia, HIV, and AIDS.
The medical marijuana program in Louisiana currently only permits CBD oil use. Smoking, home cultivation, and products containing more than negligible amounts of THC are not allowed.
The state of Louisiana will be launching their new medical marijuana program this coming summer, and lawmakers may be expanding the number of qualifying illnesses. Wednesday, the Senate passed two measures to that would add severe conditions to the list.
The Senate voted 25 to 9 to pass HB579, a measure that would add Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, glaucoma, intractable pain, and muscle spasms to the conditions list. The House passed the bill in April with a 60 to 40 vote.
Also on Wednesday, the Senate passed HB627 which adds autism spectrum disorders.
The House is scheduled to hold a concurrence vote on May 16 to approve any added amendments before the measures make their way to Governor John Bel Edwards’ desk for his signature.
