Louisiana’s medical marijuana program makes it easy to get a cannabis card, and with recent amendments to Louisiana law, nurse practitioners can now recommend medical marijuana in Louisiana!
Once you have a medical marijuana card, you can shop at any of the approved pharmacies in Louisiana, where you’ll find a variety of cannabis products to choose from such as cannabis flower, concentrates, topicals, and edibles.
And although you’ll have open access to shop for any cannabis products at Louisiana pharmacies, it may not be affordable for many patients.
Prices for cannabis are high across the Nation, though Louisiana’s current medical marijuana market offers some of the highest prices out there, and without adding many more cultivators, that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
There are some ways to save a little money though, and there are even some tricks to budgeting for your medical marijuana that may make it more affordable.
In this article we will discover how you can save money on your medical marijuana, and how to budget medical marijuana for the best price possible!
Saving Cash on Cannabis – Discounts & Rewards
Look for Discounts & Reward Programs at Pharmacies
As a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana, you’ll have to deal with the fact that the program is still relatively new, and supply is still somewhat limited.
There aren’t many incentives for the handful of companies involved with Louisiana’s medical marijuana program to offer cheaper prices, and that’s not likely to change until there are more growers to meet the supply problem.
That doesn’t mean that you’ll be left completely in the dark, though, because pharmacies have complete freedom and control over discount and reward programs, and it’s not uncommon to find some deals at your local store.
Many dispensaries run certain types of discounts or reward programs which can range from weekly or daily discounts, inventory discounts, and bulk discounts.
Typically, the difference between a discount program and a reward program is that you’ll be able to access the discounts as they become available from the pharmacy. Many dispensaries discount older inventory, lower quality flower, or offer bulk discounts for purchasing larger quantities.
Reward programs are a little less common, though they’re usually in the form of points you accumulate over a matter of time, or special markdowns like first-time purchase discounts and programs for Veteran, disabled, or elderly patients.
Every Pharmacy is Different, & They All Have Different Discounts on Cannabis
There’s no standardized discount available on cannabis, and each pharmacy will have their own unique discount or reward programs if they choose to.
Many dispensaries and pharmacies choose to discount lower quality products, or products that may work just fine but may look unattractive to consumers.
It’s not uncommon to see discounts on popcorn flower, shake, or kief, because these are not usually sought after in terms of quality, but cultivators will need to do something with the excess materials, so you may be able to get a good deal on these products.
No pharmacy is required to run any discounts, though, and with Louisiana’s limited supply, it’s unlikely you’ll find incredible deals until the program has been running efficiently for a few years.
Some products are almost never discounted such as premium cannabis flower, concentrates, edibles, and vape cartridges, which all maintain fairly high prices in Louisiana compared to other States that have legalized medical marijuana.
Tips & Tricks for Budgeting Medical Marijuana
Cut Your Trips to the Pharmacy Back & Buy Larger Quantities
One way to ensure that you’re getting the best price possible is to buy in bulk and make fewer trips to the pharmacy each month.
If you’re going once a week, try going once every two weeks and buying a larger amount on the trip.
If you’re purchasing 3.5 grams (1/8th oz) of cannabis flower each week, try holding out and buying 7 grams (¼ oz) instead, so you can get a discount for buying a larger amount.
If you could manage going to the pharmacy just once a month and buying a half-ounce each time, you’ll likely see a larger discount. This is a great way to save a few bucks each time you go to the pharmacy, especially if you’re usually purchasing more than 3.5 grams because you will be offered greater discounts as you buy more.
Purchasing an ounce at a time will yield a larger discount than buying ¼ ounce at a time, for example.
Buy Products on Sale & Keep an Eye on Daily or Weekly Discounts
If you’re looking to save the most money on marijuana, your best bet will be to stick with discounted products and purchase them in larger quantities.
Many pharmacies will offer daily or weekly discounts such as flower Friday’s, hash Wednesday’s, or tincture Tuesday’s.
Keep a look out for Louisiana pharmacies that run product discounts and if you can schedule your pharmacy trips around them, you’ll find you save quite a bit over time.
In many cases, there won’t be any discounts available, though there are still some things you can do to cut back the cash you’re spending on cannabis.
One way to save a few bucks is to stretch your budget as much as possible and include products that work for longer periods of time.
This might include switching up the type of flower you’re buying for a higher-THC flower, or getting a .5 gram of concentrate, or maybe swapping your regular products for edibles.
You can save extra money by increasing the potency of the product you’re buying because you’ll be able to use a smaller dosage to get the same effects. High-THC products like concentrates are great for this, and only require a tiny amount to provide an effective and long-lasting dose.
This is a temporary solution though, because your tolerance will eventually make up for the increased potency and you’ll find yourself increasing the dosage size at some point. Though, for many patients, this can happen over several weeks or months, so it’s not a bad idea if you’re looking to save as much as possible.
Get Your Louisiana Medical Marijuana Certification
Louisiana allows telemedicine for medical marijuana patients, which means you can get your medical marijuana card online in Louisiana! Getting your medical marijuana card is simple and easy with Louisiana Marijuana Card, and our compassionate physicians will walk you through every step of the way!
Beat the lines and get your medical marijuana certification in Louisiana today, and you can even get certified for medical marijuana online for ease of use and convenience.
For questions about Louisiana’s medical marijuana program, or how to become a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana, consult with one of our trusted doctors and book an online medical marijuana appointment today!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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