La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-7701
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
Section XLV-7701 - Preamble, Warning, and Suggested ConsultationA. Preamble-State Law. Pursuant to Act 261, R.S. 40:1046, of the 2015 Session of the Louisiana Legislature, as amended and supplemented by Act 96 of the 2016 Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners was directed to: 1. promulgate rules and regulations authorizing physicians licensed to practice in this state to recommend marijuana for therapeutic use by patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition; and B. Warning-Federal Law. Irrespective of Louisiana law, which as an agency of this state the board is obliged to adhere, marijuana is classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law and regulation and has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for the treatment of any medical condition. Prescribing marijuana is illegal under federal law and physicians who do so may be subject to criminal, civil and administrative consequences that include, among others, federal criminal prosecution, civil fines, forfeitures, penalties, revocation of controlled dangerous substance registration issued by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, exclusion from Medicare and other federal payer programs, etc. Patients who possess marijuana, on the written request or recommendation of a physician or otherwise, may also be exposed to federal criminal prosecution, civil fines, forfeitures and penalties. Neither Louisiana nor the boards rules preempt federal law, which may also impact the methods of payment to physicians for visits when therapeutic marijuana is requested or recommended and inhibit the deposit of proceeds from such visits into banks and other federally insured institutions.C. Consultation. For the foregoing reasons, physicians may wish to consult with their own legal counsel, as well as any health care facility, private or governmental payor with which the physician is affiliated, medical malpractice insurers and financial institutions before suggesting marijuana for the treatment of a qualifying medical condition in their patients.La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLV-7701
Promulgated by the Department of Health Hospitals, Board of Medical Examiners, LR 412631 (12/1/2015), Amended by the Department of Health Hospitals, Board of Medical Examiners, LR 43318 (2/1/2017), Amended by the Department of Health, Board of Medical Examiners, LR 46342 (3/1/2020).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1261-1292 and R.S. 40:1046.