I am writing today to voice my support for HB 775, which takes paraphernalia used by patients in our therapeutic cannabis program off of the state’s drug paraphernalia statutes. This legislation is commonsense. Last year, the legislature passed a bill for patients to use cannabis in its natural form. The bill did not give a legal method for patients to utilize this approved form of medical cannabis. Patients should not fear criminal charges for using their medicine. It is cruel to legally allow patients to use cannabis in its raw form without a legal method of delivery. Medical cannabis has been legal for several years now, and patients are benefitting from its use. This is a key step in completing a comprehensive program that is positively impacting so many Louisianians. I implore you to vote YES on HB 775 and continue to improve the lives of suffering Louisianians. With your YES vote, you are showing compassion for people who have suffered for too long.

Today I am communicating to you, as my elected official, to support HB 775. This legislation would close the loophole in the statutes that criminalizes patients using paraphernalia to consume their medical cannabis. The medical program now allows medical patients to consume cannabis in its natural form. So, the laws of our state should reflect the ability for patients who find that combusting or vaporizing cannabis gives them the quickest relief possible. Keeping paraphernalia criminalized for that use creates a situation where a patient must break the law to consume their medicine. Most of the medical program patients use cannabis to deal with debilitating pain. Cannabis flower combusted or vaporized offers the fastest method to quickly alleviate that pain. This allows them to resume normal activities that otherwise would be hampered by their debilitating pain. So, I ask you to please support HB 775. Patients need the full relief that the medical program provides without having to break the laws of our state.