A Senate approved bill would make it illegal to manufacture or sell products in Louisiana that contain any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), unless they are licensed medical marijuana products. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, better known as THC. The House Criminal Justice Committee passed the measure with a 7 to 5 vote. The bill now moves to the House floor for final legislative passage.
The sponsor of Senate Bill 237, Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressley, says there are dozens of T-H-C products available to buy that can get you high. “What would be Crescent Lemonade THC Seltzer, which has 50 milligrams per bottle. I remind you that five milligrams gets you high.”
But Joe Gerrity, CEO of Crescent Canna makes that product. Gerrity describes Senator Pressly’s accusation as both inaccurate and misleading. “The claims that we are not a heavily regulated hemp market are completely inaccurate. In fact, we are probably most regulated hemp market in the entire country.”
Gerrity cautioned that banning the sale of T-H-C in a regulated, licensed, and taxable market will only drive people back to the black market. The bill moves on to the House. If signed into law the measure would take effect August 1, 2024.
It was just two years ago that state lawmakers approved the legalization of hemp edibles. The products were required to contain only limited amounts of delta-9 THC for adults at least 21 years of age.
