Louisiana Poised to Become One of First Southern States With Dispensaries

http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/Louisiana-Poised-to-Become-One-of-First-Southern-States-With-Medical-Marijuana-Dispensaries.html

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/medical_marijuana_louisiana_la.

html#incart_most_shared-politics

Some lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Huval, R-Breaux Bridge, spoke from the lectern about loved ones who could have benefitted from medical marijuana. Huval’s brother, David, died of cancer last month, he said. The lawmaker said he wished his brother had medical marijuana to help him through chemotherapy: “It kept him alive, but God he suffered.” …

“I want to remind you all what this is all about,” said Moreno during her closing statement on the bill. “This is about helping people who are literally begging us, begging us, to help them finally stop their suffering.” …

Those with a prescription could obtain the drug in non-smokable form — like oils or a pill — at one of 10 dispensaries scattered across the state. The bill authorizes one cultivation site…

The bill restricts the use of medical marijuana to patients suffering from glaucoma, spastic quadriplegia and for those undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. However, the legislation requests that the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners submit recommendations of other qualifying conditions or diseases — like epilepsy or AIDS — that should be added to the list…

The Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners would set rules about prescriptions, Louisiana Board of Pharmacy would set rules about dispensaries; and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture would set rules for a single cultivation site…

The 10 dispensary sites located in different parts of the state would be established at existing pharmacies, where medical marijuana will be distributed to patients with a prescription from their doctor.  The bill also lets the state track sales, in a similar manner to pseudoephedrine, in order to detect “doctor shopping.” …

Well, I guess it’s better than nothing.  After all, we’re talking about Louisiana.