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Cannabis in Louisiana

Medical cannabis was legalized in Louisiana in 2014, but patients couldn’t access it until August 2019. There are only two licensed cultivators and nine dispensaries (referred to as pharmacies) in the state.

Currently, cannabis from just one cultivator is available to patients, and the only available form is a specific tincture. However, it will eventually be available from both cultivators and in additional forms: tinctures, oils, extracts, sprays, capsules, pills, solutions, suspensions, gelatin-based chewables, lotions and other topicals, transdermal patches, and suppositories.

Overview of Key Louisiana Cannabis Laws

Is medical cannabis allowed? Yes

Is adult-use cannabis allowed? No

Personal Laws

It is illegal to possess cannabis in Louisiana without a doctor’s recommendation. In addition, the patient’s cannabis must be in one of the legally allowed forms listed above. A first offense possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana is punished with a fine of up to $300 and 15 days in prison.

Personal Possession

Registered Medical Patient Possession: 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana preparations or in a form to be administered with a metered-dose inhaler

Non-Louisiana Resident Possession: None

Personal Growing

Individuals may not grow cannabis in Louisiana. Only the two state-licensed cultivators are allowed to grow it at this time.

Registered Medical Patient Growing: None

Registered Caregiver Growing: None

Medical Cannabis Patient Qualification and Registry

Patients are required to obtain a recommendation from a physician who is certified by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to recommend medical cannabis to patients and has a therapeutic marijuana registration permit.

When a licensed and permitted physician gives a recommendation to a patient, he or she enters the patient’s name into the statewide medical cannabis patient registry and gives the patient a recommendation to take to a licensed medical cannabis pharmacy where they can purchase cannabis products.

Qualifying medical conditions include:

  • Cancer
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Seizure disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Spasticity
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Glaucoma
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Severe muscle spasms
  • Intractable pain
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Some symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder

Business Laws

Louisiana’s Alison Neustrom Act gives just two cultivators the right to get medical cannabis cultivation licenses and legally grow it within the state: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (through a contract with GB Sciences of Louisiana, LLC) and Southern University (through a contract with Advanced Biomedics, LLC).

The state also allows 10 pharmacies to get licenses to dispense medical cannabis to patients, and nine of those licenses have already been issued. These nine pharmacies are located around the state in nine geographical areas determined by the Louisiana Department of Health. The pharmacies are required to operate like other pharmacies, but they don’t have a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration, which is required to sell most prescription drugs.

License Types

  1. Cultivator Licenses
  2. Dispensary Licenses

License Fees

Cultivation Center: N/A

Dispensary: $5,000 application fee, $150 new pharmacy permit fee, $25 controlled dangerous substance license fee, and $25 prescription monitoring program fee

License Timeline

Louisiana has not given any indication that additional licenses will be available in the future.

Testing

Testing is required of all medical cannabis in Louisiana.

Training

Louisiana license holders are not required to attend training.

Learn More about Cannabis in Louisiana and How to Work or Start a Business in the Louisiana Cannabis Industry

Leafy Green Agency offers a variety of certification seminars for people who want to start businesses, find jobs, get promotions, or invest in the cannabis industry in Louisiana and across the country. Follow the link to learn more about our educational seminars.

Sources and More Information

Data current as of 10/8/19.