Louisiana won final legislative passage Monday, spurred by personal stories of people with seizures and severe pain that bill advocates say would be eased with medicinal-grade pot.
Lawmakers created a framework for the Louisiana medical marijuana program last year, but regulatory hurdles built into the law have slowed its start.
The bill by Republican Sen. Fred Mills, a St. Martin Parish pharmacist, will broaden the program to cover more diseases and make regulatory changes aimed at getting marijuana — in an oil form that can’t be smoked — into patients’ hands more quickly.
Senators agreed to House changes made to Mills’ bill with a 22-14 vote and no debate. The measure heads next to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who has said he will sign it into law.
