On Thursday June 6th, 2019, House Bill 491 was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards to allow industrial hemp to be grown in Louisiana. In December 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Louisiana’s industrial hemp state plan.

The state requires separate licenses for hempseed producers, hemp growers, hemp transporters and hemp processors. In 2020, Louisiana had 91 registered growers in 41 parishes with 2,600 acres of hemp, of which about 800 acres were planted. As of March 31, 2022, 65 growers, 12 seed producers and 3 processors have been licensed through the state Agriculture and Forestry Department.

Each license for growers and processors costs $500 a year and additional THC testing fees of $250. If the testing reveals THC levels >0.3% then the crop of commercial farmers must be destroyed.

CBD retailers are required to obtain licenses from the state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. The retailer permit costs $250. The bill prohibits the sale of smokable hemp and CBD products can be sold only as food or cosmetics.

Louisiana Hemp Industry Infographics

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