Louisiana to hear legalization pilot program bill

The Louisiana Legislature is in session — and now is our chance to push for meaningful cannabis policy reform. So far, only a few cannabis-related bills have been filed, but one stands out: HB 373, a bill that could bring legalization to Louisiana through a three-year pilot program.

Here’s what HB 373 would do:

• Allow current medical cannabis cultivators to participate in a pilot program for adult-use sales.
• Permit dispensaries — which can already operate up to three medical locations — to sell both medical and adult-use cannabis at one of their stores.
• Enable participation only through existing operators.

While we prefer legalization with a more competitive market, this first step is an approach that ensures a safe and controlled rollout of legalization while maintaining Louisiana’s commitment to patients and public safety.

If you live in Louisiana, ask your legislators to support HB373!

We’ve made tremendous progress over the past decade, moving from strict prohibition to a functioning medical cannabis program, ending arrests for personal amounts of cannabis and paraphernalia, and protecting citizens from warrantless searches of homes and persons for the odor of cannabis, to name a few. 

Now, it’s time to take the next step. Across the country, 24 states have legalized cannabis, with Virginia — the first in the South — preparing to launch adult-use sales in January 2027. Louisiana should not be left behind.