The bill would not apply to law enforcement, firefighters or other public safety officials.

BATON ROUGE, La. — The House passed a bill Tuesday that would protect state employees who are being legally treated for medical marijuana.

House Bill 988, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, protects state employees from negative consequences if they are diagnosed with a condition for which their doctor recommends medical marijuana used in accordance with state law.

The bill, which passed 60-32, would protect employees from being fired and would protect prospective employees from being discriminated against for their use of medical marijuana. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill would not apply to law enforcement, firefighters or other public safety officials.

The bill was amended on the floor to exempt employees whose primary role is operating or maintaining a state vehicle. Employees of the state horse-racing commission were also excluded.

The bill does not protect employees who are impaired on the job.

Landry said she brought the bill after talking to many people who turned to medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids to treat chronic pain or PTSD.

The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy reported that there are over 43,000 medical marijuana users in the state. The first medical marijuana dispensaries in the state began operating in 2019.

Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, took to the floor to say that the issue should be handled by the...

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