This bill amends Louisiana law regarding 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 oversee the issuance of marijuana retail permits and establish rules for therapeutic marijuana sales. Key provisions include the requirement for retailers to maintain connectivity to the Louisiana Medical Marijuana Tracking System (LMMTS), appoint a licensed pharmacist for compliance, and ensure that at least one retail location is established in each administrative region by October 1, 2022. The bill also introduces a competitive bid process for new retail permits if existing ones are revoked or returned.

Additionally, the bill clarifies exemptions from prosecution for employees and agents of permitted retailers, producers, and testing laboratories, specifying that they are protected from penalties for possession and distribution of marijuana in accordance with Department of Health regulations. It sets regulations on the proximity of retail locations, requiring that no two permit holders operate within a fifteen-mile radius of each other, and mandates home delivery services at least once a month. The bill also allows for the continued wholesale purchase and sale of therapeutic marijuana until the Department of Health finalizes its regulations and repeals certain provisions of existing law. The overall aim is to streamline the regulatory framework while ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, with the provisions set to terminate on July 1, 2030.

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)