The Louisiana State Medical Marijuana Program officially allowed the sale of cannabis flowers on New Year’s Day.
Cannabis in Louisiana is only legal for medicinal use. The use of medical marijuana (MMJ) is permitted with the written recommendation of a physician for any debilitating condition. Possession for adults of 14 grams or less is decriminalized and punishable by a fine of no more than $ 100. Prior to statewide decriminalization, possession of small amounts of marijuana was initially decriminalized in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.
Unlike the protocol of medical marijuana programs in other states that allow for vertical integration, that is, one company provides the cultivation of cannabis from seed to sale, Louisiana has only two legally licensed facilities. Both licensees are universities that are partnering with a cannabis producer to provide the full flower for the state’s nine dispensaries called “pharmacies”.
Louisiana State University partners with Good morning Farm. Historically black college / university, the University of the South in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, partners with Holistic health.
Also exclusive to Louisiana, patients will not be required to apply for or carry a medical marijuana card or license, as this is not a factor. A recommendation from any Louisiana doctor will be enough for patients to buy cannabis in one of the states nine pharmacies, according to WAFB. The protocol and procedure are similar to obtaining Medicines in section II in a traditional pharmacy.
While these pharmacies they can store over-the-counter medications at their discretion, mostly storing cannabis. They also sell CBD derived from hemp with a separate license.
“Because it’s still a Schedule 1 drug, it can’t go through a regular pharmacy. When the federal government changes that, then we can change the way it works,” said Gretna MP Joseph Marino. He chairs the state Medical Marijuana Commission.
Although Louisiana House passed a bill proposing to decriminalize marijuana, access to the medicinal cannabis flower includes procedures and warnings.
Jean Mckneely of the Baton Rouge Police Department told WAFB when it comes to traffic stops: “People have to have their medical marijuana in the bottle with their name on it. They have to carry their “When we know it’s medical marijuana, we still don’t send any charges to that particular person.”
The flower is packaged in a sealed mylar bag with the university logo, producer logo and patient name.
“Right now they’re stocked and there are more flowers in the agriculture and forestry department’s test channel that will be available in mid-January,” John Davis told Good Day Farm Louisiana, which grows for LSU.
Louisiana is a historically agricultural state. Southern University has a well-versed agricultural center, so it looks like a natural progression.
Holistic Health (IHH) you can finally offer flowers as a delivery option. IHH sells two varieties of cannabis: Mandarin Cookies and Chem OG, each with approximately 16-18% THC, depending on the batch. The company plans to launch another variety in January.
“The smoky flower is overwhelmingly the most popular way for patients to use cannabis, and Ilera Holistic Healthcare is thrilled to be able to offer flowers to our patients in Louisiana as well as other delivery systems. With options that include tinctures, topicals, inhalers of measured dose, edible and now flowers, we are proud of the progress Louisiana continues to make in making cannabis available as a medical option for all of its patients, “said Dr. Chanda Macias. CEO of Ilera Holistic Healthcare.
