Louisiana Lawmakers Threaten to Snuff Out Thriving Cannabis Industry in Bizarre Backtrack

NEW ORLEANS — Just as Louisiana’s cannabis industry was starting to bloom, lawmakers are on the verge of stomping it out, all thanks to some legislative fumbling and a hefty dose of ignorance. Back in 2022, state lawmakers inadvertently legalized THC-infused products, sparking a multi-million dollar boom. Now, they’re scrambling to undo their own mistake.

The industry’s surge was unintentional, sparked by then-House Speaker Rep. Clay Schexnayder’s attempt to expand hemp’s legal uses. Hemp, almost identical to marijuana but with less THC, got a green light for edible products containing no more than 0.3% THC. The oversight? No limit on servings per package. Voilà! Recreational THC products were essentially legalized overnight.

The results? A staggering $33 million in recreational hemp sales in 2023 alone. New storefronts popped up faster than lawmakers could say “oops,” and a diverse customer base—from 21-year-olds to 90-year-olds—flocked to shops like Simply Cannabis. “We have grandmothers coming in because this helps them sleep better every night,” said Wells, a store representative.

Enter Sen. Thomas Pressly, a Republican from Shreveport, with SB 237—an ill-conceived attempt to re-criminalize any THC product sales. “I have severe concerns about how this legislation came into action in 2022,” Pressly pontificated, arguing that THC’s health risks are poorly understood and the industry is unregulated. It’s hard not to see this as yet another bid to control people based on personal prejudices and misguided fears.

The bill zipped through the Senate and narrowly passed the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, 7-5. Now, it’s headed for a full House vote, and if it passes, only the governor’s signature stands between Louisiana and the death of its burgeoning cannabis industry.

As the vote looms, one can’t help but question the sanity of reversing a profitable, popular, and harmless industry. This battle over cannabis is more than just policy—it’s a fight against the ignorance and control of a few over the freedoms of many. Stay tuned as we track the latest in Louisiana’s cannabis conundrum.

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