Is THCA Legal in Louisiana? What State Law Says in 2026

THCA in Louisiana at a glance

Status	Banned
Age limit	Not applicable (banned)
Sale	Retail sale of floral hemp material and inhalable hemp products is prohibited, and dealing in non-compliant hemp products has been a felony since 1 August 2025.
Possession	Flower above 0.3% total THC is not industrial hemp, so possessing it can be treated as marijuana possession.
Product rules	THC includes THCA; products are capped at 5 mg total THC per serving and 40 mg per package; no floral hemp, inhalable products or alcohol mixes.
Licensing	Marijuana flower is available only to patients through the medical marijuana programme; hemp sellers need ATC permits and LDH product approval.
Key law	La. R.S. 3:1481 (THC includes THCA; hemp limit of 0.3% total THC); R.S. 3:1482(B); Act 752 of 2024; Act 233 of 2025.
Last major change	1 January 2025

What Louisiana law says about THCA

Louisiana closed the THCA route in its hemp law. R.S. 3:1481 defines THC to include tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and defines industrial hemp by a total THC concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry-weight basis.¹ High-THCA flower exceeds that limit, so it is not hemp under state law.

Even compliant flower cannot be sold to consumers. Since Act 752 of 2024 took effect on 1 January 2025, R.S. 3:1482 prohibits floral hemp material for retail use and any consumable hemp product for inhalation.² THCA in edibles or tinctures counts toward the caps of 5 mg total THC per serving and 40 mg per package.³

Penalties rose in 2025. Act 233 made it a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, to make or distribute consumable hemp products that do not follow state rules, and set a $100 citation for under-21s who buy or publicly possess hemp products.⁴ Louisiana has no adult-use cannabis. Patients in the state’s medical marijuana programme can obtain flower through licensed marijuana pharmacies, which operate separately from hemp retail.

Pending changes to watch

No 2026 hemp Act was found; HB 539 was withdrawn on 11 May 2026.

How the federal hemp change affects Louisiana

Separate from Louisiana law, the federal definition of hemp is changing. Under the federal hemp redefinition passed in the FY2026 appropriations law, from 11 December 2026 hemp is measured by total THC, which counts THCA as well as delta-9 THC, and finished products are capped at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. High-THCA flower sold as hemp today will not meet that definition, so from that date it is treated as marijuana under federal law, whatever state law says.

Bills to delay or repeal the change are in congressional committees, but none had advanced as of September 2026. Our explainer on the federal hemp THC limit covers the detail, and THCA vs delta-9 THC explains why heat turns THCA into delta-9.

Timeline of recent changes

• 1 August 2025: Act 233 makes dealing in non-compliant hemp products a crime with up to 10 years in prison.
• 1 January 2025: Act 752 takes effect, banning floral hemp for retail use and applying total THC caps.

THCA in neighbouring states

Rules change at the state line. Here is how THCA is treated in the states bordering Louisiana, as of September 2026:

• Texas: Barred by total-THC rule
• Arkansas: Banned outside medical programme
• Mississippi: Banned outside medical programme

Carrying products across state lines can break the law of the state you enter, and federal law also applies. Check the destination state’s rules first.

Delta-8 in Louisiana

Delta-8 is treated differently: in Louisiana it is Legal 21+ with 5 mg serving cap as of September 2026. Read our guide to Delta-8 law in Louisiana, or compare the two compounds in THCA vs Delta-8.

Frequently asked questions

Is THCA flower legal in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana counts THCA as THC, so high-THCA flower exceeds the 0.3% total THC hemp limit, and state law separately bans floral hemp for retail use and hemp products meant for inhalation. Selling it can bring felony charges under Act 233 of 2025.

Does Louisiana count THCA in its THC limits?

Yes. R.S. 3:1481 defines THC to include tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, and industrial hemp is measured by total THC. Any THCA in an edible, drink or tincture counts toward the caps of 5 mg total THC per serving and 40 mg per package.

Can Louisiana medical marijuana patients buy flower?

Yes. Louisiana’s medical marijuana programme lets patients with a recommendation from an authorised clinician buy products, including flower, from licensed marijuana pharmacies. This is separate from hemp law, and the ban on retail sales of floral hemp does not apply to the medical programme.

Sources

1. Louisiana Revised Statutes. R.S. 3:1481, definitions (2025 edition, via Justia). law.justia.com
2. Louisiana Revised Statutes. R.S. 3:1482, consumable hemp products; prohibitions (2025 edition, via Justia). law.justia.com
3. Louisiana Revised Statutes. R.S. 3:1483, consumable hemp products; requirements (2025 edition, via Justia). law.justia.com
4. Louisiana Legislature. Résumé Digest, Act 233 (HB 12), 2025 Regular Session (effective 1 August 2025). legis.la.gov

Editorial note: This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and reflects our reading of Louisiana and federal law as of 24 September 2026. Hemp and cannabis laws change quickly and are enforced differently by different agencies and localities. If you sell, ship or carry these products, check the current rules with the relevant state agency or a licensed attorney.

See the full state-by-state THCA table →