Louisiana Committee Passes Bill Establishing Cannabis Legalization Framework

The state of Louisiana is making historic strides in cannabis with the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee’s recent unanimous passing of House Bill 707, which will help the state establish a regulatory framework for eventual adult-use marijuana legalization.

The new bill doesn’t legalize cannabis but instead creates guidelines for what it will look like when that day comes. The state decriminalized cannabis in 2021, making full legalization the next logical step, and lawmakers hope to finally make marijuana sales a reality next year.

The bill was first introduced by state representative Edmond Jordan (D), who is planning further bills that will cover the possession and taxation of cannabis. “This is a very simple bill,” he stated to the committee. “It is for the adult use of cannabis. It sets up the retail side with dispensaries and how we would do that.”

This legislation will create a cannabis program run by the Louisiana Department of Health. Under the rules of House Bill 707, adults 21 and over will be able to purchase up to one ounce of cannabis a day. They can also pay $75 for a permit to grow six plants at home, with a maximum of 12 plants per household and a personal grow stash of up to two pounds of cannabis.

There has been some backlash regarding the proposal, but legislators are determined to push forward. “We can’t bury our heads in the sand and think that people aren’t going to get access to cannabis,” Jordan continued. “They’ve gotten access to it since the beginning of time and are going to continue to do that. The question is: How do we make it safe? How do we regulate it? How do we tax it? How do we make money off of it, frankly?”

And, fortunately for Louisiana residents, early projections show that there is plenty of money to be made from legal cannabis sales. Jordan predicts that it could earn the state $1 billion in tax revenue in the first ten years, a massive amount that could provide a boost to essential functions like roads, schools, and more.

The Marijuana Policy Project created a report on the future of adult-use sales in Louisiana, stating that it could be ready for launch by 2027 and valued at an impressive $5.8 billion in 2033.

While this is incredible news for Louisiana residents, what’s next for the state is still somewhat uncertain. The current governor, Jeff Landry (R), may not support adult-use legalization. Hopefully, he will see the potential revenue this could generate for the state and help enact this reform during his term.