Legislators pass medical marijuana expansion in Louisiana

Legislators pass medical marijuana expansion in Louisiana

Tue, 06/02/2020 - 16:02
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Legislators passed a bill on Sunday that authorizes the recommendation of medical marijuana for additional conditions and allows any state-licensed physician to recommend medical marijuana.

The bill, HB 819 by Rep. Larry Bagley R-Stonewall, went before a House concurrence on Sunday where it passed 74 - 16. The amendments from the Senate were also concurred in.

Senate President Page Cortez then signed the bill, which now heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards to be signed into law.

The Senate had voted 28-6 on Wednesday for the proposal.

The bill expands upon the 2015 state law that allows physicians to recommend cannabis to treat a long list of diseases and disorders including Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorders, epilepsy, and seizures.

Sen. Fred Mills, R-New Iberia, the chairman of the Senate Committee, had come out in support of the measure.