New Louisiana Bill Would Establish Recreational Cannabis Pilot Program Through 2030

(Photo credit: Leafly).

A new Louisiana bill filed today would authorize the sale of marijuana to everyone 21 and older through a temporary, state-run pilot program that would begin in 2027 and run through 2030. House Bill 373, filed by Representative Candace Newell (D), would establish the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act,” creating a limited rollout of recreational marijuana sales designed to test the feasibility of a permanent program. The measure has been referred to the House Health and Welfare Committee.

Under the proposal, the Louisiana Department of Health would oversee the cultivation, processing, transportation and retail sale of adult-use cannabis. Rather than creating an entirely new licensing structure, the bill limits participation to the state’s existing medical marijuana operators. Current therapeutic marijuana retailers would be allowed to designate one retail location per region to participate in the pilot, and existing licensed cultivators would be eligible to supply both medical and adult-use products.

Sales would be restricted to individuals 21 and older, and all products would be tracked through the Louisiana Medical Marijuana Tracking System. Testing and laboratory requirements would mirror those already in place for the medical marijuana program.

The department would begin issuing pilot permits on January 1, 2027. Permits would be valid for one year and subject to a $5,000 annual renewal fee for each participating retail location, cultivator and laboratory.

For the duration of the pilot program, which would run from January 1, 2027 through July 1, 2030, cultivators participating in the program would pay a 3.5% fee on gross wholesale sales of both medical and adult-use marijuana. Those choosing not to participate would continue paying the current 7% fee on medical marijuana sales. Revenue collected would be deposited into the state’s Disability Services Fund.

The bill also clarifies that while medical marijuana sales would remain exempt from state and local sales tax, adult-use retail sales would be subject to applicable sales and use taxes.

If approved, the pilot would serve as a testing period to evaluate whether Louisiana should adopt a permanent adult-use marijuana system after mid-2030.