What illness qualifies for medical marijuana in Louisiana? If you're curious to learn what ailments are used to obtain a medical marijuana card in LA, you've come to the right place.
If you or someone you know is suffering from any of the conditions outlined in this post, y u may be eligible to purchase and consume medical marijuana.
Louisiana's medical marijuana program is still in its early stages, so more conditions may be added to the list in the future. While we expect the program to change, applying for medical cannabis in LA is rather straightforward with the right team facilitating the process.
But do I qualify for medical marijuana? In order to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Louisiana, patients must be diagnosed with one of the conditions outlined in this post.
Looking for help with the medical marijuana application process in Louisiana? CannabisRxHealth here to help!
Contact us now to get in touch with one of our Board-licensed cannabis physicians. Schedule your consultation today to begin the process.
What Are The Qualifying Medical Conditions in Louisiana?
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain
- Concussion
- Crohn's Disease
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hospice or Palliative Care
- Huntington's Disease
- Intractable Pain
- Lewy-Body Dementia
- Motor-Neuron Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS
- )Muscular Dystrophy
- Parkinson's Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Seizure Disorders
- Severe Muscle Spasm
- Spasticity
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Any debilitating condition a physician thinks the patient will benefit from cannabis use
More About Medical Cannabis in Louisiana
In August 2020, Louisiana made a major modification to its therapeutic marijuana law by expanding HB819 to permit any state-licensed doctor to make a medical cannabis recommendation to anyone they believe will benefit from using it. This is in stark contrast with the state's dispensary program, which took nearly four years to get up and running since 2016's legalization success.
Although lawmakers had the list of qualifying conditions that allowed patients to be eligible to participate in the state's medical marijuana program, the costs of treatment have prevented many from being able to pay for medical cannabis, as per the local CBS news outlet. After a four-year pause, Louisiana set the bar for the states located in the Deep South by expanding upon the program, giving doctors the ability "to recommend medical marijuana for any patient they believe it would help." The only way to know is whether expanding the program can reduce the high price of treatments that many locals cannot afford.
However, it's now possible to become a Louisiana medical marijuana card holder – not to mention, it's become significantly easier than it was in the year 2019. Since all state-certified doctors can now prescribe cannabis in a variety of forms, such as oils, extracts, sprays, tinctures, tablets, capsules, chewables made with gelatin, transdermal patches, suppositories, and topicals. Since the start of 2022,, smokable forms of cannabis are permitted under some conditions.
In June 2021, Louisiana began adopting some new medical cannabis policies. House Bill 391 has been moving towards getting approved by Governor. John Bel Edwards. The bill has the potential to broaden the state's medical cannabis program, giving patients the ability to purchase up to 2 1/2 ounces of cannabis flower for medical purposes every 14 days. The bill would also let doctors suggest patients use cannabis as a treatment option.
It was 2022 when Louisiana approved a variety of laws which are pertinent to patients who use medical cannabis. The five bills for the house that were passed came into effect during August, 2022.
Through Act 473, police cannot perform warrantless searches of residences based on the scent of marijuana. Then, there's Act 651. This shields those who are qualified to use cannabis from discrimination in the workplace.
Act 499 permits all cannabis-related items for patients who are medically using marijuana products. This includes pipes, bongs, vapes, etc.
Act 438 as well as 439 offer protection from prosecution for medical marijuana patients who are not Louisiana residents. Then, through Act 444, the state broadens the scope of who can authorize medical cannabis. Nurse practitioners are now able to issue recommendations.
LA Medical Marijuana Qualifications FAQ
Is Louisiana medical or REC?
Cannabis is legal in Louisiana only for medicinal purposes; possession of 14 grams or less is decriminalized, and fines are $100 or less. Any debilitating condition may be treated with a physician's written prescription if there is a doctor's written recommendation for medicinal marijuana.
Does Medicaid cover medical Marijuanas in Louisiana?
RS 40:1046 and RS 40.1047 created Louisiana's Medical Marijuana Program. However, non-opioid pharmacologic treatments like cannabis are not covered by Medicaid.
Can I use my Louisiana medical card in another state?
If you have a medical marijuana card in Louisiana, then you can also use it in Arizona, Maine, Arkansas, Michigan, Hawaii, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Puerto Rico Rhode Island, Washington DC., or Utah.
How to Get a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card
If you're looking to get your Louisiana medical marijuana card, the first step is to get a recommendation from a licensed physician. Louisiana has a list of qualifying conditions that allow patients to receive treatment with cannabis.
CannabisRxHealth can help. Schedule an online appointment with one of our Board-certified physicians. All you'll need is a valid LA photo ID and at least one of the qualifying conditions to begin the process.
