Louisiana has taken another small step towards a viable medical marijuana program in the state.
On June 5th, House Bill 358 passed 82-0 and is now sent to the Governor John Bel Edwards for final signage. The bill allows patients to inhale medical marijuana using a metered inhaler, on top of the already permissible ways such as via edibles, extracts, and oils.
Kevin Caldwell of Commonsense NOLA gave the following statement:
“House Bill 358 has made it through the legislative process and now goes to the Governor for his signature. This bill brings the state of Louisiana closer to being recognized as a therapeutic cannabis state. We still have one of the most restrictive programs in the country but the level of bipartisan support is a testimony to the level of support this program has among the citizens of our state. We will continue to work to make our program as effective and affordable for our patients. This is a marathon and not a sprint and CommonSenseNOLA is dedicated to bringing our program up to national standards as well as the social justice aspect of ending cannabis prohibition in Louisiana.”
Louisiana still has one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the nation, but advances continue to be made.
Contact your local representatives and demand more progress!
Bill Arceneaux has been an independent writer and film critic in the New Orleans area since 2011, working with outlets like Film Threat, DIG Baton Rouge, Crosstown Conversations, and Occupy. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and is Rotten Tomatoes approved. See his other pieces and reviews here.
