Louisiana Officials Remove 100-Patient Limit for Doctors Recommending Medical Cannabis
Louisiana state officials today nixed a regulation that prohibited physicians from recommending medical cannabis to more than 100 patients, while also easing renewal requirements for patients.
Earlier today the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, by a vote of 8 to 1, decided to remove an arbitrary rule that required physicians to stop recommending medical cannabis once they’ve recommended the medicine to 100 patients. The board also removed a requirement for patients to see their physician every 90 days in order to continue their ability to legally use medical cannabis (the vote on this was closer; 5 to 4).
Dr. Victor Chou, who was one of the first physicians in the state receive a license to recommend medical marijuana, told the board he met the patient cap just two weeks after opening his clinic, noting that he has “a waiting list of 700 patients”.
During their meeting the board was also asked to lift a rule that requires minors using the medicine to treat the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder to see a pediatric subspecialist in addition to their family physician. Proponents of the change urged the board to look into the issue at their next meeting which takes place in October.