Arizona marijuana laws

Louisiana Marijuana Laws

Cannabis is legal in Louisiana for registered medical marijuana certificate holders. Recreational cannabis use is illegal, but possession of small amounts has been decriminalized to some extent.

Legal Status

Mixed

Possession Limits

2.5 ounces every two weeks (for registered patients)

Cultivation Laws

Illegal

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Louisiana Cannabis Laws

Is cannabis legal in Louisiana?

Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Louisiana.

Medical use is legal though, subject to a physician’s recommendation and the receipt of a medical marijuana certificate.

What are the penalties for possessing cannabis in Louisiana?

It is illegal for anyone in Louisiana who does not have a medical marijuana certificate to possess cannabis.

While not fully decriminalized, possession of small amounts is no longer cause for arrest, nor jail time. Instead, the police officer must issue a criminal summons to appear in court.

The penalties in force for marijuana possession in Louisiana depend on the amounts involved and whether it is a repeat offense or not. Hash and concentrates are treated the same as cannabis flower in Louisiana.

What are the penalties for cultivating or intending to distribute marijuana in Louisiana?

Marijuana cultivation and possession with intent to distribute is treated more severely than simple possession, with mandatory minimum sentences in force.

For instance, if a minor is the intended recipient of a person over 25 years old, the mandatory minimum sentence is 10 years with the possibility of up to 30 years in prison, even for small amounts of cannabis.

Here are the cultivation and distribution penalties for marijuana in Louisiana in full.

Are there any other factors that influence penalties for marijuana offenses in Louisiana?

Possession, distribution, or cultivation of cannabis within 2,000 feet of a drug free zone can result in a punishment that is 1.5 times greater than the offense’s maximum sentence.

Drug free zones include schools, colleges, playgrounds, drug treatment facilities, places of worship, public housing, and child care centers.

Are there other sanctions in force for a marijuana-related offense in Louisiana?

For those over the age of 19, any conviction concerning the possession, use, or abuse of one or more controlled substances results in an order of denial of driving privileges for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year.

Click here for further information on marijuana DUI laws.

What are the cannabis possession limits for medical marijuana patients in Louisiana?

Medical marijuana patients in Louisiana are able to purchase a maximum of 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower every two weeks from a state-licensed dispensary.

Other marijuana-based products, such as oils, extracts, sprays, capsules, and chewables are also available.

Are there restrictions on what conditions qualify for medical marijuana treatment in Louisiana?

There are no specific restrictions on what conditions qualify for medical marijuana treatment.

What is required is that medical marijuana is recommended by a physician and that the physician is qualified to assess the ailment which the cannabis will be used for.

Can visitors use an out-of-state medical marijuana card in Louisiana?

Non-residents cannot use an out-of-state medical marijuana card in Louisiana. As with local residents, they must first receive a physician’s recommendation before they are able to purchase marijuana from a dispensary.

Since cannabis is federally illegal, it is also illegal to bring medical marijuana across the border into Louisiana.

Is medical marijuana available to minors in Louisiana?

Yes, patients under the age of 18 can apply for a medical marijuana certificate through their parent or guardian, who act as their caregiver.

With the fifth highest arrests rate in the country for marijuana crimes, residents of this state should familiarize themselves with the local laws. Marijuana use is allowed for medical purposes in Louisiana, but any other possession, distribution, and cultivation is illegal. Weight limits for possession are unusually high.

Possession

It is an unclassified criminal offense in Louisiana to possess any amount of marijuana less than 60 pounds. The maximum penalty on a first offense is 15 days in jail and $300 in fines when the amount is less than 14 grams. For first-time offenders possessing between 14 grams and 2.5 pounds, the maximum penalty is 6 months in jail and $500 in fines.

When the amount possessed is between 2.5 pounds and 60 pounds, the punishment includes a mandatory minimum of 2 years in prison, a maximum of 10, and fines of up to $30,000.

Any possession of more than 60 pounds of cannabis is a felony. For amounts of between 60 and 2,000 pounds, the mandatory minimum is 5 years, the maximum possible sentence is 30 years, and a top fine of $100,000 applies.

Possession of between 2,000 and 10,000 pounds is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 40, and fines of up to $400,000. And finally, when the amount exceeds 10,000 pounds, the penalty includes a mandatory minimum of 25 years, a maximum sentence of 40 years, and fines of no more than $1,000,000.

Offense Penalty Incarceration Max. Fine
14 g or less (first offense) Not Classified 15 days $ 300
More than 14 g – less than 2.5 lbs (first offense) Not Classified 6 months $ 500
2.5 – less than 60 lbs Not Classified 2* – 10 years $ 30,000
60 – less than 2000 lbs Felony 5* – 30 years $ 100,000
2000 – less than 10,000 lbs Felony 10* – 40 years $ 400,000
10,000 lbs or more Felony 25* – 40 years $ 1,000,000
First and second offenders may be eligible for probation.
* Mandatory minimum sentence

Distribution and Cultivation

It is an unclassified offense to distribute any amount of marijuana, grow it, or possess it with intent to distribute it. On a first offense, there is a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 30, plus a top $50,000 fine. On a subsequent conviction, the penalty is at least 10 years in prison and as many as 60, plus up to $100,000 in fines.

It is also an unclassified offense under Louisiana law to give or sell marijuana to a minor, a crime punishable by at least 5 years in prison and as many as 45, plus $100,000 in fines. On a subsequent offense, the minimum prison term is 10 years, the maximum is 90 years, and a fine of $200,000 is possible.

Offense Penalty Incarceration Max. Fine
Any amount (first offense) Not Classified 5* – 30 years $ 50,000
Any amount (subsequent offense) Not Classified 10* – 60 years $ 100,000
To a minor (first offense) Not Classified 5* – 45 years $ 100,000
To a minor (subsequent offense) Not Classified 10* – 90 years $ 200,000
Includes possession with intent to distribute
* Mandatory minimum sentence

Concentrates

Hashish, hash oil, and other marijuana concentrates are treated the same as marijuana flower. That means the same weight limits and penalties apply.

Offense Penalty Incarceration Max. Fine
Penalties for hashish are the same as for marijuana. Please see the marijuana penalties section for further details.

Miscellaneous

Offense Penalty Incarceration Max. Fine
Possession, distribution, or cultivation of marijuana within 2000 feet of a drug free zone is punishable by 1.5 times the maximum sentence.
Conviction of any crime involving controlled substances results in denial of driving privileges for not less than 30 days but not more than 1 year.

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Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana

Qualifying Conditions

  • Autism spectrum disorders
  • Cachexia/wasting syndrome
  • Cancer
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Intractable pain (defined as “pain so chronic or severe as to otherwise warrant an opiate prescription”)
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post traumatic stress disorder
  • Seizure disorders/spasticity
  • Severe muscle spasms
  • Any other condition not otherwise specified “that a physician, in his medical opinion, considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through his medical education and training to treat”

Patient Possession Limits

30-day supply of non-smokeable marijuana

Home Cultivation

No. Medical cannabis will be cultivated by two companies selected by the LSU and Southern University agricultural centers.

State-Licensed Dispensaries

Yes

Caregivers

No

Reciprocity

No

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