LAPLACE, La. – A complex legal battle is unfolding in St. John The Baptist Parish, where a zoning dispute is threatening the establishment of the first medical marijuana dispensary in the area. Business owner Omar Pecantte, who has previously opened dispensaries in Houma and Morgan City, finds himself at the center of this controversy after purchasing land for his third Greenleaf Dispensary location on Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace.
Pecantte’s plans came to a standstill when the local zoning board, through its third-party assessor, declined to issue a building permit for the dispensary. The reasoning given focused on the absence of a zoning ordinance specifically allowing “medical marijuana pharmacies” in the parish, despite the property’s commercial zoning designation.
Faced with bureaucratic hurdles, Pecantte has taken legal action against parish leaders and the zoning board. “I had hoped to resolve this amicably, but the objections from the board have compelled me to seek judicial intervention,” Pecantte explained. He had invested $225,000 in the property and has also accrued substantial legal fees, retaining two law firms to handle his case.
Pecantte is particularly frustrated with the impact on local patients, emphasizing that 1,600 residents in the parish already depend on medical marijuana, as reported by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy’s prescription monitoring report. Currently, these patients must travel to Orleans or Baton Rouge to access their medications, a situation Pecantte believes could be alleviated if his dispensary were permitted to open.
Amidst the legal wrangling, Pecantte has pointed out what he perceives as inconsistency and unfair targeting by the parish administration. He argued that pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are permitted to sell opioids without the zoning code specifically listing “opioid pharmacy,” accusing the parish of applying a double standard when it comes to his medical marijuana dispensary.
Parish President Jaclyn Hotard has responded to the controversy by stating that the opposition to the Greenleaf Dispensary is strictly a matter of adhering to the zoning code, not an opposition to medical marijuana per se. She expressed willingness to welcome the dispensary if it complies with local zoning regulations.
The legal nuances of this case have caught the attention of local attorney and legal commentator Joe Raspanti, who noted, “This kind of dispute isn’t unique to this parish; however, if the parish can demonstrate specific reasons for their zoning choices, they might make it difficult for Mr. Pecantte to proceed as planned.”
As the court date approaches in June, both sides will present their arguments, hoping for a resolution that could see the Greenleaf Dispensary open its doors by early 2026. Pecantte remains hopeful that the judicial process will clear the way for his business, providing much-needed services to the residents of LaPlace.
The outcome of this court case could set a significant precedent for the treatment of medical marijuana dispensaries in zoning disputes across Louisiana and potentially other states facing similar challenges.
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