Louisiana’s High-Flying Hemp Party May Be Curtained Soon

Bill Seeks to Ban THC-Containing Hemp Consumables

It’s been a high-riding endeavor for Louisiana’s booming hemp industry over the past two years. However, this roller-coaster ride of profits may soon nose dive if a proposed bill to outlaw hemp consumable items including gummies, chocolates, and drinking products containing THC is endorsed by the Legislature.

Senate Bill 237, the Contention in Debate

Republican Shreveport Sen. Thomas Pressly introduced Senate Bill 237, aimed at banning any THC hemp consumable products. The bill made its stride through the House Criminal Justice just this week and is nearing its concluding approval phase. Critics argue the THC-infused edibles and drinks are tantamount to recreational marijuana, accosting retailers for pitching to underage consumers. On the flip side, hemp supporters herald the birth of an industry that has created thousands of jobs and witnessed an explosive increase in sales from a mere $512,000 in 2020 to over $33 million by 2023.

“Legitimate Uses for Hemp Products”

Sen. Pressly, while presenting his bill, recognized the legitimate utility of hemp products ranging from biofuels to plastics, and from fibers to foods and construction materials. His contention lies with the intoxicating, synthetic, and lab-engineered products with THC that the bill seeks to curb. Hemp’s THC levels are generally lower than demand-intensive marijuana. However, it can be gathered in palatable hemp products and retailed at CBD stores in 8-milligram servings. THC, the psychoactive chemical inducing a ‘high’ feeling, often gets credit for fighting pain, stress, and sleeplessness, among other conditions.

Possible Impact On the Hemp Industry

Hemp entrepreneurs showed up this week and in previous hearings to testify that a ban on consumables will dash the nascent industry to pieces and eliminate thousands of jobs. In an earlier argument, Casey White, who invested his life savings to open two CBD stores in Abbeville and Lafayette, expressed his profound concern about the bill’s possible implications, “This would destroy our industry,” he said.

Prospects for a Compromise

There is still room for thorough discussion and the possibility of reaching a compromise. One viable solution could be imposing stricter regulations on the products to keep them inaccessible for consumers aged below 21, but at the same time, avoiding a complete industry shutdown. This notion is encapsulated in House Bill 952, proposed by Democratic Lafayette Rep. Dustin Miller, which stays in line for its premier committee Senate hearing after receiving clearance from the House.