THIBODAUX — When Matthew Zugsberger surveys his California garden, he sees what he calls a “beautiful” sight: dozens of marijuana plants in different stages of growth. Their leaves will be smoked, sold or given away, he says, to other people with medical marijuana prescriptions.

Such a garden — legal in the state where Zugsberger lives — would be illegal in Louisiana because the state has no law permitting medical use or possession of marijuana.

But Zugsberger, who faces drug charges in Lafourche Parish, aims to change that.

Zugsberger is scheduled to appear in Judge John LeBlanc’s courtroom Thursday morning. He seeks to quash the indictment charging him with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.