Gov. Bobby Jindal “Open” To Use Of Marijuana For Medicinal Purposes

BATON ROUGE, La. (KPEL) — Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday said he was "open" to the idea of making the use of medical marijuana legal in Louisiana, as long as it was tightly controlled.

According to a report from the New Orleans Advocate, Jindal said he continues to oppose the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes, but he would "certainly be open to making it available under very strict supervision for patients that would benefit from that."

A state law, passed in 1991, already exists allowing the use of medical marijuana, but it makes it impossible for pharmacists to actually fill a prescription for the drug. The Advocate reported the law hinged on the secretary of health and hospitals creating rules for implementation of the law by Jan. 1, 1992. Those rules were never created.

A majority of Louisianians — 53 percent of those surveyed last summer — said they support taxing and regulating marijuana for those over 21.

The state legislature will once again consider a bill during the 2014 session that would reduce the penalties for simple marijuana possession.