Louisiana

Louisiana’s new medical cannabis laws are now in effect, including provisions for protecting state employees who use medical cannabis, putting the Department of Health in charge of the state’s cannabis program, and prohibiting police from searching homes without a warrant based on the odor of cannabis.

Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards (D) signed multiple cannabis and hemp reform bills including new provisions for out-of-state medical cannabis patients and industrial hemp testing.

Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation to protect state workers from being terminated for medical cannabis use but the measure does not apply to certain safety-sensitive jobs, including public safety officials.

Lawmakers in the Louisiana House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations last week unanimously approved a bill to protect state employees who use medical cannabis.

Louisiana’s medical cannabis patient registration has increased 600% this year after cannabis flower became available to patients in January.

After decriminalizing low-level cannabis possession last year, a Louisiana proposal is seeking to reimplement the threat of jail time for minors caught with small amounts of cannabis.

Sentenced in 2014 to life in prison over a $20 weed deal, 39-year-old Kevin Allen has a shot at being set free under a new Louisiana law that allows district attorneys to reach post-conviction plea agreements with prisoners.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers Jr. from Louisiana was featured smoking a blunt in his first campaign ad, which emphasizes the many failures of the war on drugs.

Louisiana is set to allow Delta-8 THC in food and other edible products following an announcement this week by the state’s Department of Health.

The New Orleans City Council Criminal Justice Committee has unanimously approved an ordinance that would decriminalize cannabis possession.

Louisiana’s decriminalization measure makes the possession of up to 14 grams of cannabis flower a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine with no possibility for jail time.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a bill to allow for smokable medical cannabis products. The current rules only allow for infused liquids, topicals, inhalers, and edible gummies.

Colleges in the South are launching cannabis/hemp research programs and partnering with southern cannabis cultivators to grow legal, medicinal cannabis.

Lawmakers in Louisiana’s House rejected a measure to tax adult-use cannabis sales if and when the state passes the reforms, likely dooming the reforms for this year and the next.

Louisiana voters in GOP-controlled districts overwhelmingly support the legalization of adult-use cannabis, according to recent polling data.

Lawmakers in Louisiana’s House approved a measure to decriminalize the possession of up to 14 grams of cannabis, limiting potential punishments to a $100 fine and no jail time.

Lawmakers in the Louisiana House of Representatives approved legislation to allow smokable medical cannabis products.

Louisiana’s cannabis legalization proposal has cleared its final committee before heading to the House floor for consideration.

Just over two-thirds of Louisiana residents say they support legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state, according to recent polling data.

The City Council in Shreveport, Louisiana is considering a measure to decriminalize low-level cannabis possession. If approved, Shreveport would be only the third Louisiana city to adopt significant cannabis reforms.

The application period for becoming a licensed hemp farmer in Louisiana next year is now open.

A military vet who was sentenced to life in prison for selling $30 worth of cannabis to an undercover Louisiana police officer was recently resentenced to time served and will be released from prison.

Louisiana Gov. Edwards signed legislation this week that regulates hemp and CBD products, including a ban on selling hemp products “for inhalation” except for hemp-based rolling papers.