Louisiana’s licensed therapeutic-marijuana pharmacies could soon pay a flat $5,000 each year to keep their doors open under House Bill 657, filed today by State Representative Neil Riser (R-Columbia).
The measure amends R.S. 40:1046 to direct the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to assess and collect a $5,000 renewal fee from every retail permit holder during the annual licensing cycle. Current law already requires pharmacies to renew their permits but leaves the amount of the fee to agency rulemaking; HB 657 would write the figure into statute and give LDH clear authority to enforce collection.
Louisiana’s therapeutic-marijuana program, launched in 2019, authorizes a tightly capped network of pharmacies—currently nine statewide, with a tenth planned—to dispense non-smokable formulations such as tinctures, metered inhalers and edible products. If HB 657 becomes law, the fee would generate roughly $45,000 to $50,000 a year for compliance inspections, laboratory oversight and other program costs.
After today’s filing, the bill was assigned to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, which will schedule its first hearing in the coming weeks. From there it must clear the full House and Senate before reaching Governor Jeff Landry.
Supporters contend that a predictable revenue stream will allow LDH to maintain rigorous oversight as patient enrollment grows. Opponents may counter that the additional operating cost will trickle down to patients, who already pay out of pocket for medicine that insurance does not cover. With the 2025 regular session adjournment set for early June, lawmakers have a narrow window to decide whether the new fee—Louisiana’s first statutorily mandated levy on dispensary renewals—moves forward.
