How to Save Money on Medical Marijuana at Louisiana Pharmacies

In many medical marijuana programs throughout the nation, the place where patients can buy their weed is called a dispensary. In Louisiana, however, these places are known as pharmacies! Other than the terminology difference, dispensaries and pharmacies serve nearly identical functions.

In 2015, Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill limiting the number of pharmacies that could sell medical marijuana at any one time. The maximum was set at ten dispensaries. The Board of Pharmacy’s motive behind this decision was to make these life-saving resources more accessible to patients statewide by splitting Louisiana into nine districts. This would allow each region one pharmacy to serve the patients in nearby areas.

The Board voted in 2018 to give nine pharmacies the ability to distribute medical marijuana throughout Louisiana, which is split into nine regions. And here are those regions along with the cities they include and the corresponding pharmacies!  

• H & W Drug Store: Metropolitan  (Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines )
• Capitol Wellness Solutions: Capitol  ( East Baton Rouge, Ascension, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, West Feliciana, and West Baton Rouge)
• Green Leaf Dispensary: Teche  (Lafourche, Assumption, St. John, St. James, St. Mary, and Terrebonne and St. Charles)
• The Apothecary Shoppe: Acadian  (Evangeline, Acadia,  Iberia, Lafayette, Vermilion St. Landry, and St. Martin)
• Medicis: Southwest  (Cameron, Beauregard, Allen, Jefferson Davis, and Calcasieu)
• Delta Medmar: Northeast  (Caldwell, Madison, East Carroll, Jackson, Franklin,  Lincoln, Richland, Morehouse, Union, Ouachita, West Carroll, and Tensas)
• The Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy: Central  (Concordia, Catahoula, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Grant,  Winn, Rapides, and Vernon)
• Hope Pharmacy: Northwest  (Bossier, Caddo, Bienville, DeSoto, Webster, Natchitoches, Sabine, Claiborne, and Red River)
• Willow Pharmacy: Southeast  (Washington, Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, and St. Tammany)

Since Louisiana has limited the number of pharmacies in the state, these stores have more leverage over pricing and distribution. Purchasing medical marijuana to treat PTSD, cancer-related symptoms, chronic pain, or other conditions can become expensive quickly, but utilizing some of the following strategies can help to cut costs:

Locate Medical Marijuana Deals

By being shrewd and scouring for discounts, you can usually find good deals on medical cannabis products. This gives your budget some wiggle room. As the Louisiana medical marijuana program gets older, there will be more chances to save money in different ways.

Explore Different Shop

Although most pharmacies have comparable pricing for similar products, you may be able to find the same strains of product at different pharmacy stores for slightly varying prices!

Most people find it advantageous to compare shops before they buy from a specific pharmacy, as many locations list their products and prices on their websites.

A great way to save money on your medications is to follow your local pharmacy’s social media accounts! Many pharmacies offer sales and promotions that give patients discounts on certain products. By following them, you can take advantage of these deals and save money every week!

Join the Pharmacy Loyalty Program at Your Local Pharmacies

If you’re concerned about spending too much money on medical marijuana, sign up for a loyalty program at your favorite medical marijuana dispensary. Usually, all they need is your email address or phone number to send you promotional material and sale notifications.

You will receive a message any time you have the opportunity to save on your medical marijuana, and some stores also allow you to rack up rewards points that go towards the price of your purchase.

Join Local Pharmacy Newsletter

If you subscribe to your pharmacy’s email newsletter, you’ll be privy to exclusive deals and discounts that non-subscribers won’t have access to these deals. Usually sent monthly or bi-monthly, these newsletters are a great way to stay updated on the latest specials at your local pharmacy.

Ask at your Local Pharmacy

Your local pharmacy may have some great deals if you just ask around! The inventory is constantly changing, so it’s always worth checking in with the pharmacist to see what might be on sale. You never know what you’ll find!

Make a Call Before You Go

Pharmacies are sales-savvy and oftentimes know when a sale is going to happen before it does. The simplest way to take advantage of these deals is to call the pharmacy in advance! By checking in at the beginning of each week, you can stay updated on any upcoming sales or promotions. Doing this little bit of legwork upfront means that you can then just stop by whenever there’s a sale and talk about low effort for a high reward!

Get the Most Out of Your Medical Marijuana

Another way to save on your medical marijuana is by stretching your stash! With these tips and tricks, you can be more conscious of how much you use:

DIY Edibles

A cost and time-effective way to make your own edibles are by using tinctures from the pharmacy! This process is fun because you can get creative with the flavors and methods of consumption.

If you make your edibles at home, you can better manage your health and wellness! You can craft edibles from foods that you actually love to eat and that fit within your everyday diet and lifestyle. brownies And cookies are usually the only options available at pharmacies. Not only that, but you also have complete control over the dosage. This is because tinctures have drop-by-drop dosing!

Edibles

Not only are DIY edibles great but you can also save money when purchasing edibles in general! In Louisiana, gummy edibles are available to you. Eating your marijuana actually makes the effects more pronounced. It does take longer to feel the effects but once you do they last long because the marijuana is in your bloodstream. Consuming marijuana in a way that lasts the longest is a great way to not use up all of your stashes too quickly!

Concentrates

By extracting the valuable cannabinoids found in marijuana plants, medical marijuana concentrates are created. These products are much more potent than others on the market which can help you obtain the medication needed while conserving your product!

Buy products that will last a long time

With all of the different products available at pharmacies these days, from patches to capsules, it can be hard to know if you’re getting your money’s worth. In Louisiana (unlike Colorado or California), marijuana buds aren’t always easy to come by, which makes it even harder to judge whether or not a purchase is worthwhile.

Tinctures are a much safer investment than other Louisiana product options because they have an extremely long shelf life. If you store your tinctures properly, they could last virtually forever. Compare this to something like an edible, even the best-crafted edibles will go bad quickly in comparison to tinctures. By being mindful of this fact, you can save money by investing only in products that won’t spoil rapidly!

Conclusion

Although medical marijuana has not been universally accepted as a form of medication, it still can be costly to treat your symptoms naturally. If you follow these tips and tricks, you won’t have to spend all your money every time you need more treatment!

By being mindful of how you spend your money at the pharmacy, making your own edibles, and investing in products that have a longer shelf-life, you can get the same quality relief for less expensive. A little extra effort goes a long way!