Is Cannabis Legal In Louisiana?

Cannabis is not currently legal for recreational use in Louisiana, but the state does have a limited medical program.

Medical
Recreational

Cannabis for Medical Use in Louisiana

Louisiana’s limited medical marijuana program was established in 2021, following the passage of Senate Bill 271. The program allows for the use of medical marijuana to treat certain qualifying medical conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer, among others.

The program is overseen by the Louisiana Department of Health and is available to patients who have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions and who have obtained a written recommendation from a licensed physician. Once a patient has obtained a recommendation, they must register with the state in order to participate in the program.

The program allows for the use of medical marijuana in the form of oils, pills, and creams, but does not allow for the smoking or vaporizing of marijuana. Medical marijuana products are only available to registered patients through licensed pharmacies, which are required to meet strict quality and safety standards.

As of 2021, there were over 1,000 registered patients in Louisiana’s limited medical marijuana program. The program has faced some challenges in its early stages, including a lack of available dispensaries and strict regulations governing the production and sale of medical marijuana products. However, the program has also provided much-needed relief to patients suffering from serious medical conditions.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • Any of the following neurodegenerative diseases and conditions:
    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
    • Huntington’s disease
    • Lewy body dementia
    • Motor neuron disease
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Spinal muscular atrophy
  • Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
  • Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Seizure disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Spasticity
  • Severe muscle spasms
  • Intractable pain
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Post traumatic stress disorder
  • Any of the following conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder:
    • Repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized
    • Avoidance of others or inability to communicate of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized
    • Self-injuring behavior
    • Physically aggressive or destructive behavior
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • A concussion diagnosed by a physician
  • Chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia
  • Chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease
  • Any condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or palliative care
  • Any condition not otherwise specified in this Subparagraph that a physician, in his medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through his medical education and training to treat

Recreational Use of Cannabis in Louisiana

Cannabis is currently illegal for recreational use in Louisiana.

Where Can I Get Cannabis in Louisiana?

The state is divided into 9 districts, and each district currently has just one approved dispensary in operation.