Louisiana recently became the first deep southern state to dispense cannabis. The medical marijuana program regulations are quite unique in comparison to other states. Unlike most programs, Louisiana’s MMJ program doesn’t require patients to register with the state or receive a medical marijuana card through the department of health. Instead, physicians are given the authority to recommend medical cannabis therapy for certain conditions and treat it very similar to a standard prescription.
Once approved patients are to then take their recommendation from their licensed physician straight to the dispensary. When they go to the dispensary, staff will verify their recommendation in the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program database. The process is much the same as how a basic script is managed. Then, the dispensary will distribute what was prescribed.
In order to become eligible for a recommendation, patients must be approved by a licensed physician for certain ailments and undergo annual recertification.
Qualifying Conditions
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Communication difficulties or avoidance that jeopardizes the patient’s physical health
- Destructive or physically aggressive behaviors
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors that put the patient’s physical health at risk
- Seizure Disorders
- Self-Injuring Behaviors
- Severe Muscle Spasms
- Spasticity
- Wasting Syndrome/Cachexia
Possession and Cultivation
Louisiana has very precise rules and regulations for its medical marijuana program. Patients are only able to carry up to a 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana products and home cultivation is also strictly prohibited. The Department of Agriculture and Forestry is the state’s lead regulatory agency for the production of medical marijuana and they have appointed agricultural contractors from LSU and Southern University to grow and manufacture medical cannabis.
State-Licensed Dispensaries
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy authorized only nine dispensing pharmacies across certain regions of the state. Currently, program laws prevent the sale of marijuana in any form that may be smoked. The types of cannabis products that will be sold at state-approved pharmacies will include pills, topical creams and oils and can only be given to patients with a recommendation form from a doctor.
Veriheal Can Help
Navigating the medical marijuana front can be challenging because each state has its own set of rules. It’s important to be well informed so you don’t inadvertently break the law. The hard part out of the equation has been removed and the entire process of getting approved for medical marijuana can now be streamlined. Veriheal will connect you with an authorized healthcare professional for a swift consultation so that you can have access to your medicine as soon as possible.
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