Louisiana

Overview

Louisiana has a medical marijuana program, now regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Physicians may recommend cannabis for any condition they judge debilitating, and patients have been allowed to buy raw flower for inhalation since 2022. Products are sold through licensed pharmacies. For people without a recommendation, possessing 14 grams or less is punishable by a fine of up to $100 with no jail time. Adult-use cannabis is not legal.

Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

What's Legal

Smokable flower is permitted for patients; consumption is restricted to private property.

Possession Limits

Up to a 30-day supply as certified by a licensed physician

Home Growing

Not permitted

Recent Changes

Act 305 (HB 568) took effect August 1, 2026. It increases penalties when marijuana possession occurs on school property, within 2,000 feet of a school, or on a school bus: up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000. The statewide penalty for 14 grams or less elsewhere did not change.

Driving and Cannabis

Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in Louisiana, as it is in every state, whether or not the cannabis was obtained legally. Officers may rely on field sobriety tests, drug recognition evaluations, and blood tests, and some states set specific THC limits or zero-tolerance rules. Consuming cannabis in a vehicle and carrying open or unsealed packages where the driver can reach them are commonly prohibited. If you have used cannabis, the safest choice is not to drive.

Crossing State Lines and Federal Law

Taking marijuana across state lines is illegal under federal law, even between two states where cannabis is legal, and it may also violate the law of the state you enter. Marijuana is also prohibited on federal land, in national parks, and at airports under TSA jurisdiction. In 2026 the federal government moved FDA-approved products and state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III, but adult-use marijuana remains a Schedule I substance, and rescheduling does not legalize interstate transport. Separate federal changes to the legal definition of hemp take effect in late 2026 and will restrict many intoxicating hemp-derived THC products.

Official Resource

Cannabis laws change often, and limits, penalties, and program rules can differ from what is summarized here. This page is general information, not legal advice. Before you rely on any detail, check the official state source below or consult a licensed attorney in Louisiana.