Baton Rouge, LA: Patients suffering from intractable pain, post-traumatic stress, and other medical conditions are now eligible to receive medical cannabis access under newly enacted legislation.
House Bill 627 expands the pool of patients eligible to receive cannabis therapy to include those with symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, such as self-injuring behavior or an inability to communicate with others.
House Bill 579 further expands the patient pool to include those with: glaucoma, intractable pain (defined as “pain so chronic or severe as to otherwise warrant an opiate prescription”), Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, and severe muscle spasms.
Under the state’s nascent medical marijuana access law, two companies have been selected to produce cannabis-infused medicines, which will be dispensed via nine pharmacies throughout the state. Qualified patients are expected to begin having access to cannabis products by this fall.
For more information, contact Justin Strekal, NORML Political Director, at (202) 483-5500.