Louisiana Lawmakers Pass Hemp Product Regulations, Reject Proposed Ban

The hemp products industry in Louisiana has avoided an industry-wide crisis after state lawmakers rejected a proposal that would have shut down about 2,000 hemp companies in the state, the Louisiana Illuminator reports.

But while the Senate proposal to effectively end the hemp industry died in the House, senators on Friday passed — with adjustments — House Bill 952, which seeks to restrict the types of products that are allowed to contain hemp-derived THC and the amount per serving of THC. The bill passed the Senate 37-1 but the House needs to approve the senators’ changes by Monday evening, which is the end of the legislative session, the report said.

Louisiana lawmakers have been considering the competing hemp product regulatory proposals for weeks. At one point on Friday, state representatives considered amendments to the Senate’s industry ban, looking for common ground by banning the use of intoxicating ingredients in hemp products. The amendments were rejected 39-60 and the bill ultimately failed to advance.

“I know there are a lot of you in this room who smoke weed, who ingest weed. If you don’t vote against this, I think you’re being a huge hypocrite.” — Rep. Mandie Landry (D-New Orleans), in a statement

Meanwhile, in the U.S. House of Representatives, lawmakers have attached an amendment to the federal Farm Bill that would effectively ban the sale of hemp-derived intoxicating products. The amendment’s future is uncertain in the divided House and Senate.