Updated on May 11, 2020. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Joseph Rosado, MD, M.B.A, Chief Medical Officer
Unlike many medical states, Louisiana does not require medicinal cannabis patients to get a card. Instead, they allow patients to get a recommendation and use it without providing a medical marijuana ID. Louisiana legalized medical marijuana in 2016, but patients will have access to medicine in late summer 2018. The state is on course to have full availability in early 2019 when both certified growers have their products ready.
Louisiana medical marijuana regulations allow patients to carry a 30-day supply of medical marijuana at one time. They may not inhale their medicine or use cannabis in its raw form. Only the two universities that hold growing licenses may raise marijuana plants, so patients cannot grow their own.
You must have a recommendation from a cannabis-certified doctor before you can buy marijuana medicine in Louisiana. This recommendation will allow you to visit a dispensary and receive your approved dosage. MarijuanaDoctors.com can help you get started on the path to safe, legal cannabis medicine and the following perks:
While Louisiana doesn’t issue medical marijuana cards, they do regulate who can write recommendations. Only physicians who receive a therapeutic marijuana license from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners can provide a recommendation. If your existing doctor doesn’t have this permit, you need to find one who does.
Fortunately, you don’t have to do this search alone. Our directory of Louisiana doctors lists physicians with the license ready to see patients. We vet every doctor before we add them to our database, so you can rest assured they offer legitimate and professional services. Narrow your search by specialty, zip code and distance.
Every listing features details like hours of operation and contact information. To ensure the doctor will make a good fit, you can read patient reviews and ask questions. Once you decide on a physician, you can make an appointment right on our site.
At MarijuanaDoctors.com, we understand navigating the world of medical cannabis can feel overwhelming. Medicinal marijuana services work differently from traditional healthcare, requiring specialized knowledge. Even the medicine itself has different properties, but you have no need to worry — we can help you get top-quality care.
Our Louisiana qualifications page details the conditions that make you eligible for cannabis medication. Having a diagnosis for one of these ailments qualifies you to ask for a recommendation. For detailed information about the medical marijuana program, you can visit our state overview of Louisiana.
Please note that your doctor doesn’t “prescribe” medical marijuana like they would pharmaceutical medicine. Many information sources, even those from the state itself, will use this language. A doctor can’t prescribe a federally illegal substance like cannabis, so technically, they recommend it. “Marijuana pharmacies” actually count as dispensaries and provide completely different services.
This only means you will have a different experience from traditional healthcare. Medical marijuana professionals have comparable skills and certification to standard healthcare experts. In fact, many dispensary owners in Louisiana also operate pharmacies. Doctors who recommend cannabis medicine have professional medical training with extra knowledge about medical marijuana.
To get a recommendation for medical cannabis in Louisiana, you’ll need to follow these parameters:
For more information about Louisiana’s medical marijuana program, contact the relevant authorities:
Stay up to date on the Louisiana legislation by checking MarijuanaDoctors.com regularly.