Marijuana, hemp laws have changed in Louisiana. Here’s what that means for patients, consumers

Medical marijuana has been legal in Louisiana since 2019, but the laws have been tweaked and expanded since then, including this summer following the Legislative Session, while hemp laws were also adjusted.

Louisiana’s medical marijuana law has allowed doctors to recommend — the equivalent of prescribing — the medicine for patients with any medical condition.

But House Bill 190 from Rep. Travis Johnson (D-Ferriday), which will become law Aug. 1, expands those who can recommend medical marijuana to nurse practitioners and medical psychologists.

Medical marijuana can only be grown legally in Louisiana by the LSU and South ag centers. Lawmakers declined to increase the number of eligible growers this year.

Lawmakers also declined to expand the number of authorized pharmacies beyond the 10 existing regional monopoly pharmacies.

But they did approve a new law to let the licensed pharmacies add locations within their regions when their number of patients hits a certain threshold.

‘Adult use’ hemp bill passes

A new bill allowing any products over 0.5mg of THC per dose to be deemed “adult use consumable hemp” and setting the age limit to 21 for purchase was introduced by Rep. Clay Schexnayder (R-Sorrento), and became law Jun. 16.

THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation. Hemp isn’t marijuana, but it is part of the cannabis family. Consumers don’t need recommendations to buy hemp products.

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