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How to get a medical card in Louisiana.

  1. 1

    Register online with Leafwell

    You can speak to a doctor and qualify for a Louisiana medical marijuana card online, although note that Louisiana does not currently have an ID card system. The cost of the online consultation and renewal is $199. You are only billed if approved.

  2. 2

    Discuss Medical Marijuana with your Doctor

    Attend your appointment and discuss with your physician why you would like to be certified for medicinal cannabis. The doctor will ask you questions based on your medical history and provide you with advice and guidance on whether medical marijuana is a good choice for you. A physician may recommend medical cannabis for any condition they feel is appropriate. When it comes to minors with autism spectrum disorder, a pediatric specialist is needed to sign off on the minor patient being certified.

  3. 3

    Get Certified at Your Chosen Pharmacy by Leafwell

    Your Leafwell physician will contact your nominated dispensary to complete the necessary process of confirming that you are now a medical marijuana patient. If you want a copy of your certificate, your chosen pharmacy can provide you with one. Leafwell cannot provide you with a copy directly.

  4. 4

    You Don't Get A Medical Cannabis ID Card

    Note that there are no cards – your selected dispensary of choice will be told by our physician that you are an eligible patient and you just need to show a regular ID to purchase.

    Patients are not required to join a state registry. Louisiana medical marijuana certificates are valid for one year.

Benefits of Getting a Louisiana Medical Card

Having a valid medical cannabis certificate is currently the only way to legally consume cannabis in the state of Louisiana. Should adult use cannabis be legalized in the next several years, it is likely that medical patients will have advantages similar to ones patients from other states get, such as lower/no taxes and greater possession limits.

About Medical Marijuana in Louisiana

Louisiana’s medical program is an interesting one. It is closely controlled from a product perspective. On 1st January 2022, they permitted the sale of flower for the first time and the popularity of the program increased rapidly. In Louisiana, the stores where you can purchase medical product as a “card holder” (there are no cards) are called pharmacies and it is a pharmacist who runs these stores, emphasising the medical side of the program.

Here is a brief overview of the history of medical marijuana legislation in Louisiana:

1978 – the therapeutic marijuana legislation was first enacted making it one of the earliest states to do so but it only included patients with glaucoma and undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Due to the wording of the bill, patients never actually received this medicine.

1991 – spastic quadriplegia was added to the list of qualifying conditions but the language still meant it wasn’t enforceable.

2015 – Governor Bobby Jindal signed a law which set up a framework designed to allow the dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes.

2016 – a new law went into effect to exempt medical marijuana patients and caregivers from state prosecution

August 1, 2019 – the first round of medical marijauna was cleared for release and the first dispensaries were able to open

August 1, 2020 – a patient can qualify if they have a condition which their doctor "considers debilitating to an individual patient" and their doctor must be "qualified through medical education and training to treat"

August 1, 2021 – Non-medical cannabis is "decriminalized". House Bill 652 (H 652) makes possession of 14 grams or less — about half an ounce — a misdemeanor in all cases and limit the fine to $100 with no jail time

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How to qualify

You must be aged 18 or over to qualify for medical cannabis in Louisiana. Those under 18 can still qualify for a medical marijuana certificate, but will need a caregiver. When it comes to those aged under 18 with autism, a pediatric specialist and a caregiver is needed to sign off on the minor patient being certified.

Minors with a qualifying health condition and lawful access to medical cannabis must leave school grounds to medicate.

  1. Information for caregivers
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    • Caregivers must be aged 21 or over.
    • Caregivers must fill out their own application form, and must be listed on the patient’s application form as well.
    • Caregivers must be free from a criminal felony involving controlled substances.
    • Louisiana law only allows caregivers if the patient  patient’s parent. A pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist will need to sign off on the recommendation as well.

Medical Conditions

According to Louisiana law, the following conditions may qualify you for a medical marijuana certificate in Louisiana:

The definition of ‘intractable pain’ is:

“a pain state in which the cause of the pain cannot be removed or otherwise treated with the consent of the patient and which, in the generally accepted course of medical practice, no relief or cure for the cause of the pain is possible, or none has been found after reasonable efforts. It is pain so chronic and severe as to otherwise warrant an opiate prescription.”

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Possession and Growing

Anyone who is holding a medical marijuana certificate is permitted to be in possession of a maximum of 30 day supply (total amount determined by physician) of any of the following products:

  • Extracts
  • Oils
  • Pills
  • Tinctures
  • Solutions
  • Suspensions
  • Chewables
  • Lotions
  • Patches
  • Sprays
  • Suppositories

Every patient is different and your physician may recommend a specific form for you. In 2019, the legislature approved allowing the vaporization of marijuana via a "metered-dose inhaler."

It is now also legal for medical marijuana patients registered to the state medical cannabis program to purchase up to two and a half ounces of medical cannabis flower per 14 day period from licensed providers. This law took effect on January 1st, 2022 after Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D) signed House Bill 391 into law.

The Louisiana laws are strict and if a patient or caregiver is found to be knowingly possessing more than their 30-day supply of medical marijuana, they may face up to six months in prison and a fine of $500 (if it is their first offence).

Cultivating cannabis is illegal in the state of Louisiana for qualified medical marijuana patients. It is not legal at this time for anyone within the State of Louisiana to grow marijuana for any purpose. Only licensed production facilities will be allowed to grow medical marijuana under Louisiana law. Growing marijuana for any purpose is still illegal under federal law.

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Caregivers

Medical Marijuana patients in Louisiana can have a caregiver.

Some patients may be eligible for an MMJ Certificate but unable to apply for one themselves. Should the patient be a minor under the age of 18, a caregiver can be allocated. This caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian aged 21 or over.

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    This caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian.

  2. 02

    This caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian.

  3. 03

    This caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian.

  4. 04

    This caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian.

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Reciprocity

Louisiana does not have reciprocity with other states, and does not recognize their medical marijuana programs.

As Louisiana does not have an MMJ card system, you will not easily be able to get reciprocity in another state that does have medical marijuana reciprocity but requires an identification card.

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Frequently asked questions in Louisiana

How much does a Louisiana Medical Marijuana certificate and card cost?

Medical marijuana certificate on its own = $199 at Leafwell

Renewal fee = $199

Plus, now you can sign up with a friend and each save 10% on your consultation with Leafwell.

What medical conditions qualify for a Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the following conditions may qualify you for a medical marijuana certificate and card:

  • AIDS/HIV
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Cancer
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Chronic Pain
  • Destructive or physically aggressive behaviors
  • Communication difficulties or avoidance that jeopardizes the patient’s physical health
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors that put the patient’s physical health at risk
  • Seizure Disorders
  • Self-Injuring Behaviors
  • Severe Muscle Spasms
  • Spasticity
  • Wasting Syndrome or Cachexia
What do I need to know about applying for my Medical Cannabis Card in Louisiana online?

Telemedicine for medical cannabis is legal in Louisiana. Therefore Leafwell’s services are accessible via telehealth in Louisiana.

There are three simple steps to seeing a Leafwell provider in Louisiana to obtain your medical marijuana card:

  1. Create a Leafwell account using a valid email address and choosing a password. You’ll then be asked to complete a brief questionnaire of personal and health information and to either take or upload a photograph of identification (Leafwell is required by law to verify your identity). You will need a smartphone, computer, or tablet with a reliable internet connection and a working camera to be seen by a Leafwell provider.
  2.  Next, you will be taken to the virtual waiting room where you’ll be connected Leafwell provider for a video chat (i.e., a virtual doctor’s visit). (You will receive a text message to your cell phone when the provider is ready to see you.) During the video chat, the provider will assess your health situation to determine if you qualify for a medical marijuana certification.
  3. If you are approved, your physician will fax the recommendation directly to the pharmacy of your choice. You do not need a physical medical card and can buy medical marijuana at your chosen pharmacy.
How old do I have to be to apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana?

You must be at least 18 years of age in order to apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Louisiana.

Can I be/have a caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana?

Yes,  it is posisble to be a caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana. The caregiver must be the parent or legal guardian of the minor requiring medical marijuana, and caregivers for medical marijuana patients in Louisiana must be aged 21 years-old or over. For minor patients, caregivers will need to purchase on their behalf at the pharmacy where the Physician Referral Form is faxed after approval.

How do I apply for the state program in Louisiana?

Being A Medical Marijuana Patient in Louisiana

  1. You don’t need to do anything! Louisiana does not offer a medical marijuana card so there’s no state paperwork.
  2. Leafwell will fax your doctor’s certificate to your pharmacy of choice. There are currently nine licensed pharmacies in the state of Louisiana. If you want to change your pharmacy at any time please contact us at support@leafwell.com.
  3. As soon as the pharmacy receives your certificate from us, you can legally purchase medical cannabis products there. Ensure you bring a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, with you to the pharmacy.