Published 7:50 pm Monday, April 27, 2026
By Amos Abba
A medical marijuana dispensary owner says St. John the Baptist Parish officials have failed to respond after he submitted all required documents ahead of a court-ordered deadline, after a year-long legal dispute over whether the business can open.
On Feb. 23, 2026, attorneys for Green Leaf Dispensary owner Omar Pecantte told the court the company had met all application requirements, submitting a signed contract and a revised site plan. By the Feb. 27 court deadline, parish officials had not requested any additional documents or revisions, according to the court filing.
“My submission was made before the court-mandated Feb. 27, 2026, deadline. I submitted all required materials on Feb. 23, 2026,” Pecantte said. “The parish had until Feb. 27 to notify me of any additional requests or revisions, but it did not. Based on the court’s order, I have fulfilled all requirements.”
The lack of response comes as a district judge has ordered St John the Baptist Parish to make a final decision on the proposed dispensary by May 28.
Judge Vercell Fiffie of the 40th Judicial District Court had ruled in February that parish officials must either approve or deny the building permit application, after months of delays and back-and-forth over zoning rules.
The dispute centers on whether medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed under current parish zoning ordinances. The parish director of planning and zoning, Connie Powell who was listed in the lawsuit had previously denied the permit, arguing that “medical marijuana pharmacies” are not explicitly listed as a permitted use, even though pharmacies are allowed in the commercial zoning district where the business is planned.
Pecantte’s attorneys argued the marijuana dispensary meets state requirements, noting that Green Leaf Dispensary is licensed by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and employs licensed pharmacists.
The revised site plan submitted in February addressed issues raised by parish reviewers, including adding required side and front setback measurements, the filing states.
Pecantte, who operates dispensaries in Houma and Morgan City, purchased property on Belle Terre Boulevard in Laplace in 2024 with plans to open his third location. The local legal dispute comes as federal officials move to ease restrictions on medical marijuana nationwide.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, shifting it from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law. The change would not legalize marijuana federally but would reduce regulatory barriers, expand research and allow licensed operators to claim federal tax deductions.
In a another lawsuit Pecantte filed on Jan. 13, 2025, he is also seeking $300,000 in damages, alleging that delays in the permit process have cost his business revenue.