Louisiana May Ban Some Previously Approved Intoxicating Hemp Products

By | Updated on March 6, 2023

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Louisiana lawmakers are considering an emergency rule that would make previously allowed intoxicating hemp products — mostly delta-8 THC — illegal. 

Louisiana has been somewhat unique in its approach to delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived intoxicating products, banning vapes and flower but allowing consumable products with no more than 8 mg of THC per serving or 1% total THC. Companies that wanted to sell such consumables had to register their products with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

But it looks like the Department mistakenly approved some 230 products with multiple servings per package, which is illegal under the current rules. That’s why the LDH consulted with lawmakers and industry insiders to propose the emergency ruling.

The news has understandably upset many Louisiana hemp businesses who believed they already went through the proper channels to get their products approved. The proposed changes could affect as many as 3000 Louisiana hemp businesses, as well as retailers and farmers. 

In the words of Representative C. Travis Johnson:

I’m hoping you have in mind how much these small businesses invested,” he said. “Louisiana has to be business friendly, and in this particular case there were errors made on our part. So when you’re making these rules … that’s going to impact their business and their investment, and the trust that businesses have for Louisiana, that’s important how we handle this and how we make these companies whole.

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