HLS 20RS-794 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 386
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Adds to the set of debilitating conditions qualifying a patient
for a recommendation of medical marijuana by a physician
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(xvii), relative to recommendation by physicians of
3 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 by a physician in treating any
6 medical condition that he is qualified to treat; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(xvii) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง1046. Recommendation and dispensing of marijuana for therapeutic use; rules and
10 regulations; of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and
11 Louisiana Board of Pharmacy; and the adoption of rules and regulations
12 relating to the dispensing of recommended marijuana for therapeutic use; the
13 Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the licensure of a production
14 facility licensing by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry
15 A.
16 * * *
17 (2)(a) For purposes of this Subsection, "debilitating medical condition"
18 means any of the following:
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-794 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 386
1 (xvii) Any condition not otherwise specified in this Subparagraph that a
2 physician, in his medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and
3 is qualified through his medical education and training to treat.
4 * * *
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 386 Original 2020 Regular Session James
Abstract: Authorizes the recommendation of medical marijuana by a physician in treating
any medical condition that he is qualified through his medical education and training
to treat.
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 to the list of debilitating medical conditions
provided in present law any condition that a physician, in his medical opinion, considers
debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through his medical education and
training to treat.
(Adds R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(xvii))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.