Louisiana Lawmaker Files Bill To Create Three-Year Marijuana Legalization Pilot Program
Michigan’s Marijuana Tax Experiment Should Be An Urgent Warning To Other States (Op-Ed)
Missouri Lawmakers Approve Psychedelics Bills To Expand Access To And Research On Psilocybin And Ibogaine
Amendment To Delay Hemp THC Ban Won’t Get A Vote At Farm Bill Hearing, Key GOP Congressional Committee Chair Signals
Oklahoma Lawmakers Vote To Extend Medical Marijuana Business License Moratorium
Scientists Reveal What Types Of Food The Marijuana ‘Munchies’ Make You Crave The Most
AI Models Like ChatGPT Can Generate ‘Convincingly Realistic’ Psychedelic Experiences When Virtually Dosed, Study Shows
Cannabis-Infused Drinks Offer Consumers A ‘Harm Reduction’ Alternative To Alcohol, Study Shows
Marijuana Use Isn’t A ‘Red Flag’ In The Dating Scene, Three In Four Americans Say In New Survey
10 Million US Adults Microdosed Psychedelics Last Year, New Report Shows
DEA Promotes Anti-Marijuana PSA Contest Inviting Students To Warn Peers About THC Dangers On 4/20
Largest Entertainment Arena In US Partners With Cannabis Businesses To Sell THC Drinks At Concerts And Live Events
Woody Harrelson Got Kicked Out Of Two Bars For Smoking Marijuana With Matthew McConaughey’s Mom
State Marijuana Regulators Share Tips On How To Stay Safe And Legal Around The Holidays
One In Three Americans ‘Pre-Game’ With Marijuana Before Family Holiday Gatherings, Survey Finds
Marijuana Kiosks For Seniors Are Coming To Independent Living Communities Across Arizona
Montana Retailers Have Sold More Than $1 Billion Worth Of Recreational Marijuana Since Legalization Took Effect
Pre-Rolls Are A Key Driver Of The Cannabis Retail Market’s Success (Op-Ed)
Massachusetts Hits $10 Billion Marijuana Sales Milestone, With Top Official Saying Consumption Lounges Will Bolster Industry In 2026
Ohio Dispensaries Sold More Than $1 Billion Worth Of Legal Marijuana In 2025
Hemp THC ban delay hits roadblock in Congress (Newsletter: February 27, 2026)
ACLU previews cannabis & guns arguments for Supreme Court (Newsletter: February 26, 2026)
Congress will consider hemp THC product ban delay next week (Newsletter: February 25, 2026)
Dr. Oz warns about cannabis as alcohol alternative (Newsletter: February 24, 2026)
DOJ defends cannabis user gun ban, even if rescheduling happens (Newsletter: February 23, 2026)
Published
on
By
A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced a bill to create an adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program in the state to determine whether the reform should eventually be expanded and permanently codified.
Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has long championed legislation to end cannabis criminalization and filed a similar legal marijuana pilot program measure last session—is sponsoring what’s titled the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act.”
“In an effort to protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is the purpose of this Section to establish a temporary pilot program designed to test and evaluate the parameters of the implementation of a permanent adult-use cannabis program in this state,” the bill text states.
The pilot program is meant to evaluate the feasibility of a “potential permanent program” for adult-use cannabis, gain feedback and data on the small-scale trial and analyze the “outcomes and results” to determine whether the pilot program should be expanded and implemented on a permanent basis.
Under the proposal, the state Department of Health would be responsible for regulating the pilot program, including the “cultivation, extraction, processing, production, transportation, and retail sale of adult-use cannabis.”
Only existing medical marijuana dispensaries would be eligible to participate in the pilot program. Those retailers would have to notify the department of their intent to participate no later than 90 days before the implementation of the law. If they don’t express such intent, they could still continue to serve medical cannabis patients in the state.
Regulators would need to issue initial permits for cannabis licensees to participate in the pilot program by January 1, 2027. Then, on July 1 of that year, finalized permits would be issued, and they’d be valid for one year. An annual permit fee of $5,000 would be imposed on participating retailers, cultivators and laboratories. The pilot program would last through July 1, 2030.
“For the duration of the pilot program, the department shall assess a fee of three and one-half percent of the gross wholesales of all marijuana, for therapeutic and adult-use, distributed to a therapeutic retail permit holder or pilot program permit holder,” the bill says. “The fee shall be reported and paid by the licensee participating in the pilot program authorized to cultivate, extract, process, produce, and transport adult-use cannabis.”
The legislation—which has been referred to the House Health and Welfare Committee—would maintain current statute limiting the number of licensed dispensaries in the state to 30, and only 10 of those could join the pilot program to serve both patients and adult consumers.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
Getting the bill across the finish line could prove complicated in the conservative legislature, however. Newell’s earlier version of the pilot program legislation didn’t advance to enactment last year, and lawmakers that session also rejected other marijuana reform proposals such as one that would have established a tax system to prepare the eventual legalization of adult-use cannabis.
Meanwhile in Louisiana, the Senate last year passed a Republican-led resolution calling for the creation of a task force to study and make recommendations on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for military veterans.
Kyle Jaeger is Marijuana Moment’s Sacramento-based managing editor. He’s covered drug policy for more than a decade—specializing in state and federal marijuana and psychedelics issues at publications that also include High Times, VICE and attn. In 2022, Jaeger was named Benzinga’s Cannabis Policy Reporter of the Year.
Add Marijuana Moment as a preferred source on Google.
All the cannabis news you need, all in one place. Copyright © 2017-2026 Marijuana Moment LLC ® and Tom Angell