Louisiana lawmakers approve bill allowing sale of medical marijuana inhalers

Louisiana’s medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis inhalers to patients under a bill headed to the governor’s desk.

The added delivery method for patients should be a boost to retailers’ bottom line.

Final passage came in an 82-0 House vote for the measure, which will let medical marijuana patients use an inhaler, like asthma patients use.

Before Baton Rouge Democratic Rep. Ted James brought forth the bill, marijuana usage was allowed only in medicinal oils, pills, liquids and topical applications.

The inhalation legislation initially bogged down in the Senate amid objections about widening delivery methods.

But senators changed course, voting 31-7 for the measure after tightening language to spell out metered-dose inhalers will be allowed and nothing else.

Medical marijuana isn’t yet available to patients. Regulatory disagreements slowed getting the product to shelves, with estimates that it could be available this summer.

– Associated Press