The Cannabis Program at Louisiana Department of Health was created in April 2023. The Program contains a section for consumable hemp products as well as a section for medical marijuana.
- LDH Cannabis Program is the licensing authority responsible for registering compliant consumable hemp products for sale in Louisiana.
- LDH Cannabis Program is the regulatory authority for Louisiana’s medical (therapeutic) marijuana program.
Medical Marijuana
Per Act 491 and Act 492 of the 2022 Regular Legislature, as of August 1, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Health has assumed regulatory authority over Louisiana’s medical (therapeutic) marijuana program. LDH personnel are responsible for conducting inspections of medical marijuana production facilities and reviewing finished product test results to verify compliance with the requirements of La. R.S. 40: 1046. While there will be some changes to the way that the program is administered, the department is working with its counterparts at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to ensure a smooth transition.
Consumable Hemp Products
- Act 752 Notice of Intent – published on October 20, 2024 – Please note that the public comment period for this rule runs from October 20 – November 11, 2024.
- See the “Registration Process” page for important information about registration of hemp products manufactured outside of Louisiana.
Louisiana State Agency Responsibilities
Louisiana Department of Health
License, regulate, and inspect consumable hemp processors; approve labels for and register consumable products; provide a list of registered products to the public and ATC.
Lousiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
License and regulate growers, seed producers, processors, and handlers of industrial hemp; test industrial hemp crops
Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC)
Permit and inspect retailers that sell consumable hemp products.
Firms may not register:
- Products intended for inhalant use, including hemp flower
- Products intended for subcutaneous or transdermal use
- Products intended for intravenous or intramuscular injection or infusion
- Products intended for rectal or vaginal insertion
- Products designed as or including a vape cartridge, vape pen, e-cigarette or a similar item designed to be inhaled
- Any alcoholic beverage containing any hemp-derived phytocannabinoid
- Products claiming to be “dietary supplements”
- Products containing more than 5 mg THC per serving or more than 40 mg THC per package for items that are not tinctures or beverages (this category includes water-soluble liquid concentrates)
- Products containing more than 5 mg THC per serving or more than 20 mg THC per package for items that are beverages
- Products containing more than 1 mg THC per 1 mL serving or more than 30 mg THC per package for items that are tinctures
Acceptable dosage forms include tinctures, oils, salves, softgels, gummies, drinks, creams, ointments, lotions, lip balms, bath bombs, and single-use syringes (without needles).
