SB 270 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

HEALTH CARE: Provides for access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients in a healthcare facility. (8/1/26)

This bill allows terminally ill patients (with a prognosis of one year or less) in Louisiana healthcare facilities to use medical marijuana under specific conditions. It requires facilities to permit use while prohibiting smoking/vaping, documenting it in medical records, and storing it securely in locked containers. Facilities must follow state guidelines but are not required to provide recommendations or include marijuana in discharge plans. The law acknowledges federal Schedule I restrictions but mandates compliance with state rules, allowing temporary suspension if federal agencies take enforcement action against such facilities.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed Jun 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB270 Original → SB270 Act 602 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was finalized into Act 602, expanding the definition of 'healthcare facility' to include distinct behavioral health units and emergency departments, which were previously excluded. The act clarifies that facilities are not required to provide medical marijuana recommendations or include them in discharge plans but must allow terminally ill patients to use their own medication under strict storage and administration rules. Additionally, the law explicitly prohibits facilities from denying access solely because marijuana is a federal Schedule I drug.

Scope change

The scope of the law was expanded to include freestanding behavioral health units, hospital emergency departments, and outpatient departments, whereas the original draft only applied to general licensed healthcare facilities.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'healthcare facility' was modified to explicitly include distinct behavioral health units, emergency departments, and outpatient departments of hospitals.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added mandating that facilities prohibit smoking or vaping, securely store the medication in locked containers, and ensure patients or caregivers are responsible for all handling of the drug.

A new requirement was added stating that healthcare professionals and staff are prohibited from administering, storing, or assisting with the patient's medical marijuana.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions were added allowing healthcare facilities to suspend compliance with the law if federal agencies initiate enforcement actions or issue rules prohibiting medical marijuana use.

ELIGIBILITY

The definition of a qualifying patient was modified to specifically reference conditions defined under R.S. 40:115.1 and require a current recommendation.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

34–2

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Apr 8, 2026

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

22 Yea 2 Nay 4

78% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 53, nays 45. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 2 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors