Apply for Your Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card
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How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana Step By Step
Since the state legalized medical marijuana in 1978, Louisiana’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMP), which oversees medical marijuana licensing and production, has been updated numerous times. During that time, the state’s medical cannabis laws have been significantly relaxed.
Despite these advancements, Louisiana’s medical marijuana laws remain restrictive. Applying for and receiving your Louisiana medical marijuana card can be difficult, but the Sanctuary is here to assist you.
Step 1: Identify Your Qualifying Condition
Patients in Louisiana who want to apply for a medical marijuana card must first have a qualifying medical condition and a doctor’s recommendation. Since the program’s inception, the list of qualifying conditions has grown to include patients whose conditions are deemed “debilitating” by a medical marijuana doctor.
The following are Louisiana’s qualifying medical conditions:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Any of the following neurodegenerative diseases and conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal muscular atrophy
- Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Seizure disorders
- Epilepsy
- Spasticity
- Severe muscle spasms
- Intractable pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Any of the following conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder: repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized, avoidance of others or inability to communicate of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized, self-injuring behavior, or physically aggressive or destructive behavior
- Traumatic brain injury
- A concussion as diagnosed by a physician
- Chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease
- Any condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or palliative care
- Any condition not otherwise specified in this Subparagraph that a physician, in their medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through their medical education and training to treat
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Any of the following neurodegenerative diseases and conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal muscular atrophy
- Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Seizure disorders
- Epilepsy
- Spasticity
- Severe muscle spasms
- Intractable pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Any of the following conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder: repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized, avoidance of others or inability to communicate of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized, self-injuring behavior, or physically aggressive or destructive behavior
- Traumatic brain injury
- A concussion as diagnosed by a physician
- Chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease
- Any condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or palliative care
- Any condition not otherwise specified in this Subparagraph that a physician, in their medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through their medical education and training to treat
Step 2: Meet with a Licensed Physician
Once you’ve identified your debilitating medical condition, make an appointment with a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana and is in good standing with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Make certain that you have an honest doctor-patient relationship with them.
There are several ways to find a medical marijuana doctor, but perhaps the simplest is to contact the Sanctuary. We can help you find a doctor who can quickly certify your condition.
Remember to bring any questions you have about medical marijuana to your scheduled appointment. For example, you might want to inquire about the various cannabis strains and how they might benefit your condition. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss any other medical conditions you may have and how cannabis treatment may benefit them.
Step 3: Physician Files Recommendation with Chosen Pharmacy
After your doctor has written your recommendation, they will submit it on your behalf to the pharmacy of your choice, confirming your registration status with that facility.
To complete the state’s application process, you will need to provide proof of residency as well as other forms of identification. A state-issued driver’s license, a state ID card, or a U.S. passport are all acceptable forms of identification.
Step 4: Go to a Dispensary to Purchase Your Medical Marijuana
Louisiana lacks a medical marijuana “card” system. Rather, it keeps a digital registry of certified patients that can be searched at any of the state’s dispensaries. You will not be issued a physical card, nor will you be required to register with the state. You may request a copy of your recommendation letter, which is valid for a year, if necessary.
For Louisiana residents in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and elsewhere, there are several licensed marijuana dispensaries. With your medical cannabis card, you’ll be able to buy cannabis products like tinctures, edibles, inhalers, topicals, smokable marijuana, and CBD oil at these locations.
As a medical marijuana patient, you are only permitted to obtain a 30-day supply of marijuana products from Louisiana dispensaries. If you are a minor, your parent or legal guardian must purchase the products on your behalf.
Contact the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy for the most up-to-date list of dispensaries in the state.
Need Help Obtaining a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card
It can be difficult to apply for and obtain a medical marijuana recommendation in Louisiana. Fortunately, the Sanctuary is on hand to assist.
Our knowledgeable staff will connect you with the best physician for you and guide you through the MMJ card application process. To get started, contact us today.
