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Louisiana established its medical marijuana program in 2015 to provide patients with qualifying medical conditions access to therapeutic marijuana through a regulated state program. The Louisiana Department of Health oversees the state's medical marijuana program and its requirements for patients, clinicians, and licensed dispensaries.

How the Program Works

• Medical evaluation: An authorized Louisiana clinician evaluates your condition and determines whether therapeutic marijuana may be appropriate for you.
• Telehealth option: Louisiana law allows authorized clinicians to recommend therapeutic marijuana through telehealth, so eligible patients may complete their evaluation remotely.
• Clinician recommendation: A recommendation must be made within a bona fide clinician-patient relationship with an authorized Louisiana clinician.
• Licensed dispensary: Patients can obtain therapeutic marijuana through Louisiana-authorized dispensaries after receiving an eligible recommendation.

Learn more about medical card costs by state to understand how evaluation and program-related costs can vary.

Patient Rights

• Telehealth access: Eligible patients can complete their medical marijuana evaluation through telehealth when an authorized Louisiana clinician determines it is appropriate.
• Privacy and confidentiality: Telehealth visits are subject to applicable healthcare privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• Program protections: Patients participating in Louisiana's state medical marijuana program have legal protections for the possession and use of medical marijuana within the scope of the program.
• Follow current requirements: Patients should follow current Louisiana rules and their clinician's recommendation when accessing therapeutic marijuana.

Louisiana's medical marijuana rules can change, so patients should follow current state requirements and their authorized clinician's recommendation when accessing therapeutic marijuana.

Louisiana allows authorized clinicians to recommend therapeutic marijuana for patients with debilitating medical conditions. The state program covers a range of conditions, and an authorized clinician may also determine that another condition is debilitating based on their clinical judgment and expertise. Explore the full qualifying conditions list for additional information.

Common Qualifying Conditions

• Cancer: Patients with cancer may qualify for therapeutic marijuana based on their clinician's evaluation.
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is recognized as a qualifying medical condition under Louisiana law.
• PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder may qualify when the clinician determines therapeutic marijuana is appropriate.
• Intractable pain: Patients experiencing intractable pain may qualify under the state's medical marijuana program.
• Seizure disorders: Certain seizure disorders are included among Louisiana's recognized medical conditions.
• Crohn's disease: Patients with Crohn's disease may qualify for therapeutic marijuana.
• Multiple sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is also recognized under Louisiana's medical marijuana program.

Physician Discretion

Louisiana gives authorized clinicians flexibility when evaluating patients:

• Other debilitating conditions: A clinician may recommend therapeutic marijuana for a condition not specifically listed by the state if they determine it is debilitating.
• Clinical judgment: The clinician considers your medical history, condition, symptoms, and overall circumstances when deciding whether therapeutic marijuana may be appropriate.
• Individual evaluation: Having a condition does not automatically guarantee a recommendation. Eligibility is determined during your evaluation with an authorized Louisiana clinician.

The time it takes to receive a medical marijuana recommendation in Louisiana depends on your telehealth evaluation and how quickly your recommendation is processed after approval. Louisiana allows eligible patients to complete their evaluation through telehealth, so you may be able to complete the consultation without visiting a clinic.

What to Expect

• Same-day evaluation: If you are eligible and complete your telehealth appointment, your clinician can determine whether to issue a recommendation during the evaluation.
• Recommendation processing: If approved, the clinician submits your recommendation through the state's medical marijuana system. Processing times can vary.
• Visit a licensed dispensary: Once your recommendation is active and the required patient information is available, you can obtain therapeutic marijuana from a licensed dispensary according to Louisiana requirements.

For Louisiana patients, telehealth can reduce the time and travel involved in the evaluation. The exact timeline can vary based on your appointment, clinician, and recommendation processing.