HLS 20RS-404 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 158
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARINO
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Authorizes the recommendation of medical marijuana in
treating certain neurodegenerative diseases and conditions
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(iii), relative to recommendation by physicians
3 of marijuana for therapeutic use, known commonly as medical marijuana; to provide
4 for medical conditions which qualify a patient for treatment with medical marijuana;
5 to authorize the recommendation of medical marijuana in treating certain
6 neurodegenerative diseases and conditions; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(iii) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
9follows:
10 ยง1046. Recommendation and dispensing of marijuana for therapeutic use; rules and
11 regulations; of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and
12 Louisiana Board of Pharmacy; and the adoption of rules and regulations
13 relating to the dispensing of recommended marijuana for therapeutic use; the
14 Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the licensure of a production
15 facility licensing by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry
16 A.
17 * * *
18 (2)(a) For purposes of this Subsection, "debilitating medical condition"
19 means any of the following:
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-404 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 158
1 (iii) Parkinson's disease. Any of the following neurodegenerative diseases
2 and conditions:
3 (aa) Alzheimer's disease.
4 (bb) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
5 (cc) Huntington's disease.
6 (dd) Lewy body dementia.
7 (ee) Motor neuron disease.
8 (ff) Parkinson's disease.
9 (gg) Spinal muscular atrophy.
10 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 158 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Marino
Abstract: Authorizes the recommendation of medical marijuana to patients by physicians
for treating several neurodegenerative diseases and conditions.
Present law authorizes physicians who are licensed by and in good standing with the La.
State Board of Medical Examiners to recommend medical marijuana for therapeutic use by
patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition. Defines
"debilitating medical condition" to mean cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, positive
status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, cachexia
or wasting syndrome, seizure disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, severe muscle spasms,
intractable pain, Crohn's disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, post traumatic
stress disorder, and certain conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder.
Proposed law retains present law and adds the following neurodegenerative diseases and
conditions to the set of debilitating medical conditions which qualify a patient for a
recommendation of medical marijuana:
(1)Alzheimer's disease.
(2)Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
(3)Huntington's disease.
(4)Lewy body dementia.
(5)Motor neuron disease.
(6)Spinal muscular atrophy.
(Amends R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(iii))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.