This bill amends Louisiana law concerning the production and sale of therapeutic marijuana by transferring regulatory authority from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to the Louisiana Department of Health, effective January 1, 2025. The Department of Health will now oversee the issuance of marijuana retail permits, establish related rules, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements. The bill extends the therapeutic marijuana program's termination date to July 1, 2030, and clarifies the responsibilities of permitted retailers, including the requirement to maintain technology for tracking marijuana from production to sale and to offer home delivery services at least once a month.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for the allocation of marijuana retail permits based on the administrative regions of the Louisiana Department of Health as of August 1, 2022, ensuring at least one retailer is established in each region by October 1, 2022. It allows for the opening of satellite locations once specific patient thresholds are met and sets regulations regarding the proximity of retail locations. The bill also repeals certain provisions of existing law related to therapeutic marijuana regulation and mandates the continued wholesale purchase, sale, and delivery of therapeutic marijuana by retail permit holders until new rules are adopted. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the regulatory framework while enhancing patient access and safety.

Statutes affected:
HB376 Original: 40:1046(H)(2)
HB376 Engrossed: 40:1046(L)
HB376 Enrolled: 40:966(F)(2), 40:1046(A)(1), 40:1(A), 40:2(F), 40:4(B), 40:1046(C)(2)
HB376 Act 693: 40:966(F)(2), 40:1046(A)(1), 40:1(A), 40:2(F), 40:4(B), 40:1046(C)(2)