HLS 23RS-722 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 351
BY REPRESENTATIVES LANDRY AND TRAVIS JOHNSON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Provides relative to a recommendation of medical marijuana in
employment
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 23:1601.1, relative to medical marijuana recommendations in employment;
3 to prohibit disqualification from certain employee benefits; to allow an exception to
4 the disqualification of unemployment benefits for a recommendation for medical
5 marijuana; to provide definitions; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 23:1601.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1601.1. Disqualification of benefits; exceptions
9 A. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms have the meanings
10 ascribed to them:
11 (1) "Qualifying medical marijuana patient" means an individual who has
12 been clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition and an
13 authorized clinician has recommended marijuana for therapeutic use by the
14 individual in accordance with R.S. 40:1046.
15 (2) "Recommendation" means a recommendation for medical marijuana, as
16 defined by R.S. 40:1046, and which shall be considered a legitimate medical purpose
17 and equivalent to a medical prescription.
18 B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a qualifying
19 medical marijuana patient who receives a recommendation shall not be disqualified
20 for unemployment benefits.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-722 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 351
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 351 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Landry
Abstract: Provides relative to a recommendation of medical marijuana in employment.
Proposed law defines "qualifying medical marijuana patient" and "recommendation".
Proposed law provides that a qualifying medical marijuana patient who receives a
recommendation from an authorized clinician to use marijuana for a therapeutic use shall not
be disqualified for unemployment compensation benefits.
(Adds R.S. 23:1601.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial
Relations to the original bill:
1. Make title and technical changes.
2. Remove the workers' compensation provisions from proposed law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.