First Medical Marijuana Health Clinic in Lake Charles

Louisiana's new medical marijuana program isn't fully operational yet but that doesn't mean some of the businesses aren't ready. Though the state doesn't have any open dispensaries yet the very first health clinic opened in Lake Charles this month. Total Health Clinic, the city's first health clinic, doesn't keep any cannabis product on site and does not sell the product, however they do diagnose and prescribe for medical marijuana qualifying ailments. Officials estimate the first dispensaries in Louisiana will open before the end of the year. Doctors registered with the state to prescribe medical marijuana can diagnose and prescribe for patients with any of 15 conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, cachexia, seizure disorders, epilepsy, crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, PTSD and many more. Patients in Louisiana are excited at the chance to try a natural alternative to the opioid medications that are highly addictive.

“Medical marijuana is a lot safer than controlled medications such as Percocet, Morphine, Oxycodone," says Rossitter. "The whole opioid crisis that we are having in our country...this medicine can actually help us get out of that.”