What are the qualifying medical conditions?
– Cancer
– HIV/ AIDS
– Multiple Sclerosis
– Muscular Dystrophy
– Crohn’s Disease
– Cachexia (weakening or wasting away of the body due to chronic illness)
– Epilepsy
– Seizure disorders
– Spasticity
– Certain conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder
– Glaucoma
– Parkinson’s disease
– Severe muscle spasms
– Intractable pain
– Post traumatic stress disorder.
How many doctors are licensed to recommend marijuana?
As of July 30, there are 37 doctors licensed in Louisiana to recommend marijuana.
Where can I buy medicinal marijuana?
One pharmacy will operate in each of the nine regions of the state established by the Louisiana Department of Health. Louisiana law prohibits marijuana from being sold in any form that can be smoked. The forms sold at state-permitted pharmacies will include pills, topical creams, and oils.
The nine regions and their associated parishes are:
Acadian: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes.
Capitol: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.
Central: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.
Metropolitan: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes
Northeast: Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll parishes.
Northwest: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster parishes.
Southeast: Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.
Southwest: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes.
Teche: Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes.
What should a patient with a qualifying condition know before getting a medical marijuana recommendation?
Each licensed doctor will only be allowed to work with up to 100 patients. The patient won’t be able to get a recommendation for medicine for longer than three months. They are required by law to go back to their physician to renew the recommendation every 90 days.
Why is it called a recommendation?
Marijuana is considered a controlled substance under federal guidelines and is classified as a Schedule I drug. This makes it illegal under federal law. Doctors in states where it is legal are not allowed to “prescribe” it since it is controlled; however, they are allowed to “recommend” it.
Where is Louisiana’s marijuana coming from, and how does it work?
Medical marijuana in Louisiana will be produced under the auspices of two universities, LSU and Southern University.
When will medicine be available in the dispensaries?
A small batch of medicine will be available from the LSU Ag Center by September 2018. The Southern Ag Center has estimated its product will be available by early next year.