Purple runtz

A Louisiana House subcommittee adopted proposals Tuesday aimed at increasing patient access to medicinal marijuana, changing the agency that governs the sector, and adding the University of Louisiana at Monroe to the list of institutions that can perform research on the substance.

The majority of bills aimed at increasing the number of regional monopoly marijuana pharmacies.

Existing legislation provides for ten licences, with nine given — one in each area — which patients and politicians say makes it difficult for those without mobility or who are too sick to travel.

Independent Gretna Rep. Joe Marino's House Bill 758 would increase the number of licences from 10 to 25, with 30 percent of the new licences reserved for minorities and women, and Louisiana pharmacists given precedence for all new licences.

House Bill 697, introduced by Republican Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee of Houma, would preserve the number of licences at ten while allowing pharmacists to create second facilities within their areas once their patient count reaches 5,000. Jefferson Parish would receive the unissued tenth licence.

"In the fourth quarter, this programme finally took off," Magee said. "I'm simply attempting to collaborate with all stakeholders in order to expand access."

When the raw, smokable product was offered as an alternative for patients, the number of medicinal marijuana patients jumped by 62 percent, from 18,000 to 29,000 in the first quarter of this year.

Other steps to improve accessibility, in addition to expanding pharmacies, were authorised by the House Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

House Bill 190, introduced by Vidalia Democratic Rep. Travis Johnson, would authorise nurse practitioners to issue prescriptions (technically recommendations) for the medication.

Stonewall Republican Committee Chair Larry Bagley supported Johnson's bill, adding, "DeSoto Parish has no physicians. We consult with nurse practitioners "He stated.

Magee's bill would also compel medicinal cannabis pharmacies to make at least one home delivery every month. "The elderly are the fastest rising cohort of patients," Magee remarked. "They frequently require medication to be administered to them."

Marino's House Bill 135 would enable out-of-state medical marijuana users to have their prescriptions filled at Louisiana pharmacies when visiting the state.

Magee's bill would move regulation of the state's medicinal marijuana programme from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to the Louisiana Department of Health, a change that the industry has lobbied for.

None of the bills that have been introduced expand the number of growers, who are now confined to the LSU and Southern agcenters, but Magee's measure would add the University of Louisiana at Monroe to the list of institutions authorised to do research on the medicine's advantages.

Bagley's plan to raise the number of pharmacies was also passed by the committee, but he described it as "a placeholder" in case Magee's and Marino's legislation failed.

Though the Legislature appears to be on the verge of passing legislation to increase the number of pharmacies, several patients complained that the bills do not go far enough.

"The intentions are wonderful, but they are far from sufficient," Angele Broussard remarked. "This is far too little, far too late."

Tony Landry, a medicinal marijuana advocate and military veteran, said Magee's bill "simply closes the deal for the present monopolies."

"It's simply a plant; you don't need a degree to distribute it," Landry explained. "The industry, not the patients, is creating these invoices."

All of the legislation will now be debated by the entire House.

Purple runtz

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

A Louisiana House committee has advanced proposals to extend medicinal marijuana; do they go far enough?

A Louisiana House committee has advanced proposals to extend medicinal marijuana; do they go far enough?

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