Bill > HB978

This bill enacts new laws to regulate the cannabis industry in Louisiana. It establishes the Louisiana Department of Health as the regulatory authority over the cultivation, processing, and manufacturing of cannabis and cannabis products. The bill includes provisions for social equity, requiring the Department to ensure no barriers to entry for individuals and communities most adversely impacted by the enforcement of cannabis-related laws. It sets up a licensing system for cannabis production facilities and retailers, with limits on the number of licenses and requirements for applicant suitability and criminal history checks. The bill also creates fees for the various licenses and permits, with the revenue used to fund the regulation of the industry. The provisions of the bill will not take effect until recreational cannabis is legalized at the federal level or in Louisiana.