HLS 20RS-868 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 455
BY REPRESENTATIVE LACOMBE
DRUGS/CONTROLLED: Authorizes recommendation of medical marijuana by physicians
for patients in hospice or palliative care
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 condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or palliative care; and to
7 provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 40:1046(A)(2)(a)(xvii) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
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 * * *
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-868 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 455
1 (xvii) Any condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or
2 palliative care.
3 * * *
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 455 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session LaCombe
Abstract: Authorizes the recommendation of medical marijuana by a physician for any
condition for which a patient is receiving hospice care or palliative care.
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 for which a patient is receiving hospice care or
palliative care.
(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.