The bill amends Louisiana's laws concerning the therapeutic use of marijuana, focusing on regulatory frameworks, licensing, and operational standards for production facilities. Notable changes include extending the sunset provision from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2030, and introducing a new section (R.S. 40:1046(M)) that permits the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Southern University Agricultural Center, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe to conduct research on therapeutic marijuana. The Louisiana Department of Health is tasked with issuing a maximum of two licenses for the cultivation, extraction, processing, production, and transportation of therapeutic marijuana, with provisions for renewal and competitive bidding.

Additional modifications involve extending the active patient count review period from three months to twenty-four months and requiring the Louisiana Department of Health to gather detailed production and sales information from each licensee. The bill also replaces the term "contractor" with "licensee" throughout the text, emphasizing the Louisiana Medical Marijuana Tracking System (LMMTS) for tracking inventory and waste. New safety measures include maintaining material safety data sheets for hazardous substances and independent laboratory testing of marijuana batches. Licensees must generate inventory manifests for transportation, ensuring proper documentation accompanies all therapeutic marijuana products. Overall, the bill aims to enhance safety, accountability, and regulatory oversight in the therapeutic marijuana sector.

Statutes affected:
SB228 Original: 40:1046(H)(1)
SB228 Engrossed: 28:826(B)(1), 28:826(B)(2), 40:1046(H), 40:2(A), 40:2(B), 40:2(B)(1), 40:2(C)(2), 40:2(D), 40:2(D)(1), 40:2(D)(2), 40:2(E), 40:2(E)(1), 40:2(F), 40:2(F)(1), 40:2(F)(2), 40:2(H)(3), 40:2(I), 40:2(I)(1), 40:4(A)(1)
SB228 Reengrossed: 28:826(B)(1), 28:826(B)(2), 40:1046(H), 40:2(A), 40:2(B), 40:2(B)(1), 40:2(C)(2), 40:2(D), 40:2(D)(1), 40:2(D)(2), 40:2(E), 40:2(E)(1), 40:2(F), 40:2(F)(1), 40:2(F)(2), 40:2(H)(3), 40:2(I), 40:2(I)(1), 40:4(A)(1)
SB228 Enrolled: 40:1046(G)(3), 40:2(A), 40:2(B), 40:2(B)(1), 40:2(C)(2), 40:2(D), 40:2(D)(1), 40:2(D)(2), 40:2(E), 40:2(E)(1), 40:2(F), 40:2(F)(1), 40:2(F)(2), 40:2(H)(3), 40:2(I), 40:2(I)(1), 40:4(A)(1)
SB228 Act : 40:1046(G)(3), 40:2(A), 40:2(B), 40:2(B)(1), 40:2(C)(2), 40:2(D), 40:2(D)(1), 40:2(D)(2), 40:2(E), 40:2(E)(1), 40:2(F), 40:2(F)(1), 40:2(F)(2), 40:2(H)(3), 40:2(I), 40:2(I)(1), 40:4(A)(1)