Medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, but there are still restrictions around how much you can have, where you can buy it, and more. Physicians must be licensed with the Louisiana Medical Board specifically to recommend medical marijuana. These physicians can recommend medical marijuana for anyone that qualifies.

Medical marijuana cards in Louisiana work much differently than they do in other states – your physician’s recommendation essentially serves as your marijuana card, and you can only pick up the products you’re recommended at the pharmacy they are sent to. There are currently nine pharmacies licensed by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, and there are only two licensed growers in the state.

Right now, medical marijuana patients can possess up to a one-month supply of the products they need, as determined by their physician. Many people wonder ‘are edibles legal in Louisiana?’ In fact, non-smokable processed forms of cannabis such as gummies, pills, and capsules are currently the only type of medical marijuana available in Louisiana. This will change in 2022 when new laws go into effect.

UPDATE: Louisiana finally permits cannabis consumers to enjoy unprocessed, smokeable MMJ! You can learn more about LA’s acceptance of dried flower in our blog post. 

Caregiver laws in Louisiana are very strict. Right now, the only patients who can have a caregiver are those who are under the age of 18 and have autism spectrum disorder. In this case, the caregiver must be the patient’s parent or legal guardian. There aren’t currently any caregiver provisions for disabled adult or minors with other medical conditions.

Louisiana residents with a medical marijuana recommendation also cannot grow their own marijuana. There are currently only two licensed growers in the entire state. Growing your own marijuana can come with harsh legal consequences.

The process to apply for a Louisiana medical marijuana card is much different than it is in other states. Instead of getting a traditional medical marijuana card, you will need to get a recommendation directly from your physician. Any physician that is properly licensed in Louisiana can recommend medical marijuana.

To start the process, you’ll need to go to any licensed physician who actively recommends medical marijuana. You will want to confirm with them ahead of time that they are licensed and willing to recommend medical marijuana, as not all physicians do. During your appointment, your physician will assess you and make sure you qualify for medical marijuana treatment. If so, they will send a recommendation directly to the closest pharmacy. They will talk to you about the appropriate dosage as well as the best type of cannabis products for you, and they will ensure that the right type of cannabis gets sent to the pharmacy.

Alternatively, you can work with Elevate Holistics to get the medical marijuana that you need in Louisiana. Elevate Holistics offers convenient and secure online appointments with licensed Louisiana doctors. These doctors can provide the necessary recommendation to help you get medical marijuana in the state of Louisiana. They’ll also walk you through the entire process step-by-step, so you know how to get a medical marijuana license in Louisiana. Our appointments are affordable, and our doctors are very familiar with medical marijuana and the different types of products available, so we can give you the best care possible.

Getting your Louisiana medical marijuana card is a fairly quick process when compared to other states. Once your physician provides the appropriate recommendation for medical marijuana and submits it to the Louisiana Medical Marijuana System, your order will be processed and sent to the pharmacy. Once it is ready, you will be able to pick it up – in many cases, this happens on the same day. These prescriptions are tracked through Louisiana PMP Aware.

This is very convenient, as you won’t have to wait for a medical marijuana card to come in the mail or wait for an approval from a state board. However, you may have to wait in order to get an appointment with a Louisiana medical marijuana doctor, as they are in high demand. Getting your medical marijuana recommendation through Elevate Holistics online can speed up this process.

In order to get Louisiana medical marijuana card, you’ll have to pay for your physician’s recommendation as well as the cost of the product. It’s important to note that health insurance companies generally don’t cover the cost of medical marijuana appointments or products, as it is still illegal under federal law.

The cost of a recommendation can vary. Elevate Holistics offers online appointments starting at $75 each. If you see a physician in person, they may end up charging $200 or more for the recommendation appointment. It’s also important to note that marijuana is heavily taxed in Louisiana and products can be very expensive.

Once you have an initial recommendation from your physician, they will be able to continue sending products to the pharmacy for you to pick up on an as-needed basis. It’s currently unclear if or when patients need to have their recommendation renewed, so be sure to keep in regular communication with your recommending physician.

The question of who qualifies for medical marijuana really depends on your doctor. Legislation passed in 2020 dramatically expanded the number of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment in Louisiana.

This new law states that registered doctors can recommend medical marijuana to anyone with an ongoing condition that they believe will benefit from it, regardless of what that condition is. However, the state still has a list of qualifying conditions that they recommend medical marijuana for.

Many people wonder, ‘Is weed legal in Louisiana?’

While recreational marijuana is legal in many other U.S. states, Louisiana marijuana laws only permit medical marijuana currently. The only way to get legal weed in Louisiana is with a Louisiana medical marijuana card.

Medical marijuana was legalized in 2015 and the first dispensaries in the state were set up in 2019. Louisiana also decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2015. Possession of less than 14 grams of marijuana comes with a small fine, but no jail time. This helps to reduce the number of people incarcerated as a result of marijuana possession.

In 2020, Louisiana took steps to expand access to medical marijuana. This law made it much easier for doctors to prescribe medical marijuana and expanded the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. Up until 2021, Louisiana marijuana laws only permitted the sale of tinctures, creams, certain types of edibles, and distilled products – smokable cannabis was not legal. In 2021, Louisiana opted to legalize smokable products, which will take effect in 2022. Despite these steps forward, there are still only nine Louisiana dispensaries throughout the state.

Weed in Louisiana is not sold through traditional dispensaries, but rather through special pharmacies that are licensed by the state. There are currently nine of these pharmacies throughout Louisiana, with locations in all of the state’s major cities. The state can opt to license and open more dispensaries in the future as well. Right now, residents in rural or suburban areas may have to make a long drive to the dispensary of their choice.

When a medical marijuana doctor files a recommendation for you, they will send it to the pharmacy that is closest to you. The staff at these pharmacies have extensive knowledge of medical marijuana and can help you better understand the products you will be using.

Most dispensaries in Louisiana allow you to order your cannabis online and pick it up at the dispensary. The state has even dabbled with canna-delivery during tough times like the pandemic. Learn more here!

Louisiana does not currently have any reciprocity laws in place. This means that if you have a medical marijuana card from another state, you cannot use it to purchase medical marijuana in Louisiana. You must be a Louisiana resident in order to purchase medical marijuana in the state.

If you are interested in getting your Louisiana medical marijuana card, contact Elevate Holistics today. We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant online appointments, so you can get your medical marijuana card from the comfort of your own home. Our licensed doctors have extensive knowledge of the medical marijuana system in Louisiana and can answer any questions you may have. And, if you have more questions about MMJ in LA, you can always check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Are you a resident of Metairie, LA? Click here to learn more about LA MMJ in your area.