Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill that greatly expands access to medical marijuana. Louisiana Association of Therapeutic Alternatives lobbyist Danny Ford says this measure allows any doctor in good standing to recommend medical cannabis to a patient suffering from a debilitating condition.
“You have a relationship with your physician, they can look and see, ok we have exhausted every effort to treat you with whatever ailment we are treating you for and we think the recommendation for medical marijuana can help,” said Ford.
Under current law, medical marijuana is only available to a patient suffering from a specific condition or disease. Ford says the requirement that a doctor must have a special license in order to recommend the treatment has also been removed.
“Basically allows you and your doctor to make those decisions about whether this treatment is necessary,” said Ford.
The legislation that expands the state’s medical-marijuana program will go into effect August 1. Ford says the supply of medical cannabis might be tight, as LSU is the state’s only licensed grower.
“LSU is starting to get a bigger crop and diversify its products, Southern University is they other grower and they are not on line yet and they are going to be soon,” said Ford.