Louisiana: Gov. Cultivates First Real Medical Marijuana Legislation
On Thursday morning Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards authorized a milestone bill – SB 271 – thereby cultivating Louisiana’s first fully functioning medical marijuana program; creating a system and establishing a pathway for medicinal cannabis to be made available to qualifying patients in the Bayou State.
Cognizant of the importance of signing Louisiana’s first real medical marijuana bill, Gov. Edwards acknowledged “This is one of those bills that I believe will have a positive impact on people who need it the most.”
40 years after first fumbling the MMJ ball, Gov. Edwards’ signature on Louisiana’s medical marijuana bill sets the stage for Louisiana to lead other Southern states out of the dark ages of denial, and into the 21st century.
Passage of the bill means Louisiana residents with a “debilitating medical condition,” defined as cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, cachexia or wasting syndrome, seizure disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, severe muscle spasm, Crohn’s disease, muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis, will qualify based on the state’s new criteria.
Good, but not great…
Most regrettably, only non-smokable forms of marijuana were included in the bill, and patients will be prohibited from participating in any home cultivation of their meds.
In addition to being prohibited from cultivating their own medical marijuana plants, Louisiana’s newest law is approximately 18 months away from being fully implemented. Still trying to sort out the fine details, the state has yet to figure out who will be allowed to cultivate and distribute in the states 10 designated dispensaries.
Currently uncommitted to cultivating Louisiana’s newest crop, LSU and Southern University are high on the list of would-be growers. Should they choose to puff-puff-pass on the opportunity to cultivate MMJ, it would pivot to the private sector to supply their needs. In essence firing up the first real medical marijuana industry in the South.
According to a post in Marijuana Business Daily, “for the program to be truly workable state lawmakers also must pass a second bill, SB 180, a two-page bill giving patients and people in the marijuana industry immunity from prosecution for licensed marijuana activity. Approval is expected soon.”
In theory only, Louisiana legalized the medicinal herb nearly 40 years ago. Unfortunately, they never established the necessary rules and regulations allowing for home cultivation or provided any means of distribution. But after last November’s trouncing of Gov. Bobby Jindal (R.) and the timely election of Gov. Edwards (D), Edwards informed the press that while he was staunchly against legalizing recreational pot consumption, he empathized with parents seeking to provide real medicine for their sick and suffering children.
Thanks to marijuana.com
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