A newly introduced state bill could mark a significant shift in Louisiana’s cannabis policy by creating a limited adult-use recreational marijuana pilot program designed to run several years and test how legal THC sales might operate in the state.
House Bill 373, filed on February 25, 2026, by Representative Candace Newell (D) would establish what the bill calls the Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act. If approved, the legislation would authorize the sale of recreational cannabis to adults 21 years of age or older beginning in 2027 and continuing through mid-2030.
Under the proposal, the Louisiana Department of Health would oversee all aspects of the pilot, including cultivation, processing, transportation and retail sales of adult-use products. Rather than opening the market to new operators, HB 373 would restrict participation to Louisiana’s existing licensed medical marijuana businesses — allowing each one to designate a single retail location per region to sell adult-use cannabis alongside medical products.
Advocates of the bill describe it as a cautious approach that will allow regulators and lawmakers to gather real-world data on consumer demand, public health impacts and enforcement before considering broader legalization. Proponents argue the pilot provides controlled expansion while building on the state’s existing medical program infrastructure.
However, some critics — including cannabis policy observers and community advocates — say HB 373’s design could leave Louisiana with a recreational market that lacks competition. By limiting participation to current medical operators and licensed cultivators only, they contend the pilot could perpetuate market conditions that favor a small number of entrenched businesses and block new entrants, including smaller or local entrepreneurs, from participating.
If enacted, adult-use cannabis sales under the pilot would be subject to age restrictions and product tracking systems already in place for medical marijuana. The pilot’s results — including tax revenue data, regulatory challenges and consumer behavior — would inform future decisions about whether Louisiana should adopt a full adult-use cannabis marketplace after the program ends.
HB 373 is currently pending in the House Health and Welfare Committee, where lawmakers are expected to debate its merits and potential economic impacts in the coming weeks as the legislature continues its 2026 session.
