Louisiana state lawmakers are being asked to approve a bill which would allow recreational use of marijuana. But it would only be a pilot program. House Bill 373 would establish the Louisiana Cannabis Pilot Program. This measure would legalize the cultivation, processing, transportation, and retail sale of cannabis for adults 21 and older.
State Rep Candace Newell of New Orleans is proposing this bill.
If approved, this trial run would happen from 2027 through 2030. It would be under the oversight of the Louisiana Department of Health. Only current medical marijuana license holders would be initially eligible to participate in the pilot.
Right now, marijuana is illegal for adults unless they have a medical prescription from a doctor.
Data from 2024 shows more than 10,000 people were arrested across the state for marijuana violations. The majority of these arrests were for simple possession. Half of all drug arrests in the state are related to marijuana. Some lawmakers say this is bad policy that wastes law enforcement time and money.
If approved, Louisiana would be the first state in the southeast to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Each retail location would have to pay an annual fee of $5,000. But this measure also calls on the Department of Health to impose a 7% fee on the gross sales of all marijuana products under this program.
The first stop for this bill is the Health and Welfare Committee. Steven Jackson, Raymond Crews and Wayne McMahon from northwest Louisiana serve on this committee. This committee has 12 Republicans and 5 Democrats.
Gallery Credit: Toni Gee, TSM
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins