Louisiana has been quick to the draw to make amendments and changes to the medical marijuana program when necessary, such as adding smokable cannabis flower to the menu for 2022.
Created in only 2019, the medical marijuana program in Louisiana has expanded, and patients are currently getting medical marijuana certifications in Louisiana at an impressive rate!
In another example of change for the world of cannabis in the Pelican State, Louisiana has moved to regulate Delta-8 products as opposed to banning them as other states have done.
What is Delta-8?
Delta-8, (Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol) is a compound found in the cannabis family of plants.
It can be found in both hemp and cannabis sativa plants, but it’s usually only present in very small quantities.
There are hundreds of compounds present in the family of cannabis plants, some being psychoactive and some offering no psychoactive properties.
Delta-8 has a similar range of psychoactive effects to the more commonly known Delta-9-THC, though its effects are reportedly somewhat less potent than Delta-9-THC.
Including a euphoric “high”, increased appetite and mood, as well as reduced anxiety, Delta-8 shows promise as a potentially therapeutic cannabinoid, but due to its low production yield it is not traditionally favorable for large scale production.
However, due to it residing in a federal grey area as far as regulation goes, many companies have been producing hemp-based Delta-8-THC, commonly found as a vaporizing product or edible.
Is Delta-8 Safe?
The legality of Delta-8 is a highly debatable topic, where the cannabis rules and laws change in every state, and federal regulation is lacking as well.
Many states have chosen to ban Delta-8, citing whatever traditionalist fears or uneducated biases that political movements tend to hold onto and embrace for unjustifiably long periods of time.
In truth, Delta-8 is a naturally occurring compound that is found within many different cannabis plants and remains as harmless as its more commonly known big brother Delta-9-THC.
That doesn’t mean that the Delta-8 product you can buy off the shelf is safe, though.
The issue really comes down to production and cultivation methods. As with many other cannabis compounds, it’s critical to manufacture safe and reliable consumer products, especially when they are expected to be consumed in the body.
Delta-8 suffers the same lack of regulation that many CBD companies flourish on, with mislabeling, incorrect measurements, and false advertising being among some of the highest flaws of the industry.
This is why Louisiana has made a novel choice to regulate Delta-8 products instead of banning them, offering a roadmap for manufacturers to cultivate, produce, and sell safe Delta-8 products to consumers.
Is Delta-8 Legal in Louisiana?
Prior to Louisiana’s official change of CBD & Consumable Hemp legislation, CBD products were required to be FDA approved as a food additive, and registered and approved by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), while no hemp-based edibles or beverages were approved at all.
In August of 2021, Louisiana redefined their relationship with CBD, changing the law into a new class of “Consumable Hemp”, making the former prohibition on hemp-based edible and beverage products no longer applicable.
This opened the doors for all hemp-derived products, including hemp-based edibles and beverages, to be registered with the LDH and regulated by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control.
This means that Delta-8, as a hemp-derived product, can be legally produced and sold provided that the manufacturer has gone through all of the processes of registering with the state agencies and has received approval, just like all other hemp-derived products.
This is the right move for the state, offering regulation as opposed to banning products as a result of unreasonable fears or uneducated legislation. Now that Louisiana has moved to regulate Delta-8 products as foodstuffs, in the coming years you will likely see Delta-8 products available that have been registered with the state and tested thoroughly for their safety.
Although Delta-8 is certainly no alternative to medical marijuana products, it is a hemp-derived product similar to Delta-9-THC that will likely undergo thorough scientific testing in the near future.
Because so little is still known about Delta-8 and its corresponding effects in the body, it is not presently used as a medical compound, and official medical marijuana products are still the right choice for potency, therapeutic value, and safety.
Get Your Louisiana Medical Marijuana Certification
Louisiana is making the right choice by regulating Delta-8 as opposed to banning it, and this move remains a good example of how legislators are looking at cannabis in Louisiana.
With expected expansions in Louisiana’s medical marijuana market in 2022, you might even see Delta-8 products on pharmacy shelves as a potential alternative, but patients will likely stick with the products known to provide medicinal value.
Becoming a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana is simple and easy, and you can even get
certified online for ease of use and convenience.
For questions about Louisiana’s medical marijuana program, or how to become a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana, consult with one of our trusted doctors and book an online medical marijuana appointment today!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone
achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical
marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the
stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and
compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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