Medical cannabis is legal in Louisiana, but can you can use your Ohio medical marijuana card?
No — currently, Louisiana doesn’t accept MMJ cards from another state.
Agreed, cannabis laws can be confusing if you’re traveling and want to carry or purchase cannabis in another state.
However, don’t fret as we will cover everything you need to know. In this guide, we explore various factors to help you understand the process of using your card.
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Do You Have to Be a Resident to Get a Medical Card in Louisiana?
Yes, you have to be a resident of the state of Louisiana to apply and get a medical marijuana card.
In addition, you must be above 18 years to apply. However, even those under 18 can get a card if they have a legal caregiver (parent or guardian) who’s over 21. A pediatrician can recommend medical cannabis to those under 18.
Also, note that the medical marijuana card system is slightly different in Louisiana. Instead of a card, you need to go through a process of certification, so you’re unlikely to get emails.
Make sure you talk to a physician with previous experience recommending cannabis, so it’s faster. Once a physician certifies that you’re eligible for the card, you can have him contact any dispensary and confirm you’re registered. The certificate serves as an official document or MMJ card and you can purchase any cannabis product from local dispensaries.
Does Louisiana Accept Out-of-State MMJ Cards?
For a state to accept cards from other states, they need to be approved under the reciprocity law that allows you to purchase cannabis. Simply put, reciprocity is nothing but a policy that recognizes the authenticity of MMJ cards across various states so you won’t be deprived of your medicine while traveling.
However, as Louisiana hasn’t approved cards from out of state under its law yet, the state will not accept your MMJ card if it’s from another state.
Therefore, can you use your Ohio Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana? No, unfortunately, you can’t do it at this moment. But, since laws keep changing periodically, you can expect some restrictions to be lifted in the future.
Currently, Louisiana does have a program pertaining to medical marijuana. However, adult recreational use is still illegal although cannabis is decriminalized. Since the laws can be slightly challenging to understand, it’s important you go over them thoroughly even if you reside in Louisiana.
Read more about the reciprocity law and be aware of state laws before traveling. This is important as you don’t want to get into trouble in a foreign state. Needless to say, use caution while carrying cannabis if you’re in Louisiana even if you own a valid MMJ card issued from any state as you could face serious charges under federal law.
Can I Use My Medical Card in Another State in 2022?
Yes, you can use your medical card in another state in 2022, as long as the state is approved by the reciprocity law. This means that you need to look for states that accept MMJ cards from other states. Currently, the states that accept cards include Maine, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Rhode Island, Washington DC, and Utah.
However, even in reciprocity-approved states, there are a few laws that can be confusing, so it’s best to contact the dispensary beforehand to understand whether you’re eligible to purchase or not. This is because the qualifying condition must match between two states.
Therefore, if your medical condition is recognized in one state but not in the state you wish to visit, your recommendation can be deemed invalid. So, for example, if you’re from Louisiana and wish to purchase medical cannabis even from a reciprocity-approved state, you’ll have to abide by the laws of your visiting state.
It’s important to be aware of the laws of your visiting state. For instance, you can purchase medical cannabis in Arkansas as a non-resident, but it’s possible only if you apply before at least 14 days as a visiting patient. In Hawaii, even minors can purchase medical cannabis if they are accompanied by their caregiver. However, you must have an MMJ card issued by the state since they don’t accept certifications provided by physicians. Read more about the laws of the visiting state in detail before traveling.
Louisiana Medical Card FAQ
Does Louisiana honor out-of-state medical marijuana cards?
Louisiana is currently not approved under the reciprocity law that allows medical cannabis patients to purchase marijuana across states. This means that even if you have a certificate signed by a physician or a medical marijuana card issued from another state, Louisiana will not honor them. Thus, you won’t be able to purchase cannabis products from dispensaries.
Can I use my medical card in Louisiana?
Most states have a medical marijuana program that issues an MMJ card to the patients. They need to use the card to buy cannabis. However, legal residents in Louisiana only need to first get qualified by their physician. Once that’s done, they get a recommendation signed by the physician, which essentially serves as an official document to purchase cannabis from any dispensary within the state.
Does Louisiana recognize medical marijuanas?
The medical marijuana program in Louisiana is in its infancy. Currently, adult use of recreational cannabis is illegal but the state does recognize medical marijuana. A major change in the laws occurred in 2020 after the government passed a bill allowing doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients instead of using regular medicine.
Can I use my Ohio medical card in another state?
The laws may vary from one state to another, but you can use your Ohio medical card in another state as long as it comes under the reciprocity law. However, you can’t use your MMJ card from another state in Ohio as it’s not yet approved under the reciprocity policy. It’s best to read through the laws before visiting any state to avoid any trouble with the law.
