Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes pharmacists to dispense medical marijuana prescribed for therapeutic uses, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Requires the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to create rules and regulations authorizing licensed physicians to prescribe marijuana for therapeutic use by patients no later than January 1, 2016 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that marijuana can only be prescribed to patients suffering from glaucoma, spastic quadriplegia, or the effects of chemotherapy (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that marijuana can be prescribed in any form permitted by the Board of Pharmacy except inhalation or raw (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations relating to the dispensing of prescribed marijuana no later than December 1, 2016, including, but not limited to, the following regulations (Sec. 1):
• The standards, procedures, and protocols for the effective use, dispensing, and tracking of prescribed marijuana; and
• The establishment of other licensing, renewal and operational standards as deemed necessary by the Board.

• Requires a prescriber and dispenser of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinols, or a chemical derivative to review an individual’s information in the Prescription Monitoring Program database prior to prescription and dispensing (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to develop rules and regulations regarding the production of prescribed marijuana and the facility producing therapeutic marijuana (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Agriculture and Forestry develop an annual, nontransferable specialty license for the production of prescribed marijuana, limited to 1 license granted in the state (Sec. 1).   

Full Bill Text