GREEN SHEET REDIGEST HB 376 2024 Regular Session Riser MEDICAL MARIJUANA: P rovides relative to the regulation of medical marijuana. DIGEST Present law identifies the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU) and the Southern University Agricultural Center (SU) as the licensed producers of marijuana for therapeutic use in the state. Present law authorizes each university to contract with one contractor to produce therapeutic marijuana. Proposed law removes the universities as the licensees and transfers the licenses to the two contractors who had contracts with the universities on January 1, 2024. Proposed law establishes procedures for the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to renew or revoke the licenses including all of the following: 1. The licenses issued by LDH shall be issued to the entities that are currently under contract with LSU and SU. 2. The licenses shall be renewed each year to the licensee unless the licensee fails to follow renewal procedure, or the licensee voluntarily returns or remits to their license. 3. If a new license is issued, it shall be awarded through a competitive bid process. Present law establishes a sunset provision for the therapeutic marijuana program to terminate on January 1, 2025. Proposed law extends the termination date to July 1, 2030. Present law establishes a seven percent fee collected from the gross sales of therapeutic marijuana and provides for the dedication of the funds collected from the fee. Proposed law changes the dedication of the funds. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action. (Amends R.S. 28:826(B)(1) and (2)(c) and (C)(1)(b) and R.S. 40:1046(H) and (L), 1046.2(A), 1046.2(B)(intro para), 1046.2(B)(1)(intro para), 1046.2(B)(1)(a)(intro para), 1046.2(B)(1)(b) - (e), and (B)(2)(a), (C)(1), 1046.2(C)(2)(intro para), and 1046.2(C)(2)(a) and (c), 1046.2(D)(intro para), 1046.2(D)(1)(intro para), and 1046.2(D)(2), (4), and (5), 1046.2(E) and 1046.2(E)(1), 1046.2(F)(intro para), 1046.2(F)(1), 1046.2(F)(2)(intro para), and 1046.2(F)(2)(b) and (3), (G), (H)(1) and (2) and 1046.2(H)(3)(intro para), and 1046.2(I)(intro para), 1046.2(I)(1)(intro para), and 1046.2(I)(1)(a) and (b), (2), and (3), and 1046.4(A)(1) and (3) and (C)(1) and (2); repeals R.S. 28:826(B)(2)(d) and (C)(1)(c)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the original bill: 1. Remove provision which requires the La. Dept. of Health to issue a nontransferable specialty license for the research of therapeutic marijuana. Page 1 of 2 Prepared by Amanda Trapp. Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the engrossed bill 1. Removes the LSU Ag Center and Southern Ag Center as the two therapeutic marijuana licensees and transfers the licenses to the current contractors, effective July 1, 2024. 2. Provides for procedures for the Louisiana Department of Health to renew or revoke the licenses. 3. Changes the allocation of funds collected from the 7% fee collected on the gross sale of therapeutic marijuana. 4. Makes technical changes. Page 2 of 2 Prepared by Amanda Trapp.