Louisiana’s legislation is taking huge steps towards marijuana legalization. On June 22nd, the governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, signed a bill allowing patients in the state’s medical marijuana program to smoke whole-plant cannabis flowers. The bill marks a very notable expansion of the state’s strict medical marijuana program. It currently declares that patients are able to vaporize cannabis preparations via a “metered-dose inhaler,” but access to cannabis flower and smoking is prohibited. Disposable vapes are popular, but they don’t always compare to the relief that flower provides.

Previously, on the 15th of June, Gov. Edwards gave the okay on a measure to decriminalize the possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana. Although the governor is more open-minded to approve marijuana reform, he has predicted that it won’t be him that signs the bill for recreational adult-use legalization into law. While full legalization may not be in the cards for Edward’s term, he does believe that reform “is going to happen in Louisiana eventually.” He also said that he had a “great interest” in the legalization proposal, and pledged to take a serious look at its assorted provisions.

Just last year, the Louisiana legislature greatly broadened the state’s medical marijuana program by passing a bill that allows for physicians to recommend cannabis to patients for any debilitating condition that they deem fit. Previously, only a limited list of ailments was used. It was signed by Edwards in June 2020, and took effect weeks later.