Louisiana Bill Allowing Terminally Ill Patients to Use Medical Marijuana in Healthcare Facilities Heads to Governor
- Louisiana's Senate Bill 270, allowing some terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in healthcare facilities, has passed both legislative chambers and is now headed to Governor Jeff Landry.
- The bill permits qualified terminally ill patients with valid medical marijuana recommendations to use medical marijuana inside healthcare facilities, excluding smoking and vaping methods.
- Responsibility for obtaining, administering, and managing the marijuana lies with the patient or their primary caregiver, with healthcare staff prohibited from handling the substance.
- If signed into law, SB 270 will take effect on August 1, 2026, and requires healthcare facilities to develop guidelines and provide staff training on the policy’s implementation.
A bill that would allow some terminally ill patients in Louisiana to use medical marijuana while receiving care in healthcare facilities has received final legislative approval and is now headed to Governor Jeff Landry.
The House gave final passage to Senate Bill 270 today by a vote of 54 to 44, approving the measure on third reading after it had already cleared the Senate by a vote of 33 to 2. The bill was filed by State Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D).
Because the House did not make changes to the Senate-approved version, the proposal does not need to return to the Senate and will instead be sent directly to Landry.
SB 270 would apply to qualified patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal and irreversible condition and who have a valid medical marijuana recommendation under Louisiana law. These patients would be allowed to use medical marijuana inside covered healthcare facilities, though the bill would continue to ban smoking and vaping.
The legislation places responsibility for the marijuana on the patient or the patient’s primary caregiver, not the healthcare facility or its staff. Patients or caregivers would be in charge of obtaining the marijuana, bringing it to the facility, administering it and removing it when care ends. Facility employees, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, would not be allowed to store, retrieve, administer or help administer the products.
The marijuana would need to be kept in a locked container supplied by the patient, either in the patient’s room, in another area chosen by the facility or with the patient’s primary caregiver. If any marijuana remains when the patient is discharged, it would need to be removed by the patient or caregiver. If that is not possible, the facility would dispose of it under its own policy.
Healthcare facilities covered by the bill would be required to create written guidelines and train staff on how the policy works.
The bill was narrowed earlier in the legislative process to exclude emergency departments, outpatient departments and freestanding or distinct hospital units that provide behavioral health services.
If signed by Landry, or allowed to become law without a signature, SB 270 would take effect August 1, 2026.