Cannabis could change Louisiana: Road to being fully legalized.

Arielle Gonzales
Melanin**Ari
Published in
7 min readMay 8, 2021

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Recently, Louisiana has reconsidered the recreational use of cannabis. The state already has CBD which is for medical use only.

The media and people around the United States have been talking about cannabis as more states make it legalized. Some are trying to come up with ways to either legalize across the nation, legalize for medical reasons, or even recreational use.

The laws on cannabis are very specific, especially in Louisiana. It is important to understand the gray areas of the laws on cannabis and how those gray areas came into effect.

Cannabis can be used more than just getting under the influence. Evidence has shown for medical purposes that cannabis, aka marijuana, can be beneficial for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Marijuana has been used for millennia as medication. It has helped medical research throughout history.

“I’m not sure about Louisiana making it recreational because of the state being a conservative state and the state’s crime rate. The laws on cannabis are very specific. I would ask when people started realizing the gray areas of the laws on cannabis were and how those gray areas came into effect,” said Sofie Chavin, a Southeastern student with personal experience.

For some people, cannabis helps with blood pressure and nausea, and for others, it helps with multiple sclerosis and other debilitating illnesses. It also helps people with PTSD.

Chauvin said, “My personal experience with CBD is its effect on blood sugar. My boss had high blood sugar one day and she got sick and couldn’t do anything about it but when I gave her some of Veronica’s CBD oil my boss started to feel a lot better about 30 minutes after consumption.”

Now let’s take it back. What is marijuana exactly? Marijuana’s real name is cannabis. Cannabis is a flowering plant and is usually used for getting intoxicated and sometimes for medical reasons.

Studies have shown signs of treatment for cancer, HIV and AIDS. This medical use was stopped federally because of public opinions and politics over time. It was officially outlawed in 1937, even for medicinal use, but now it’s on the rise again. Some people fear the plant since it has the reputation for being addictive. However, CBD, which contains negligible levels of THC, is good for medical reasons, concern remains.

“What attracted me to the cannabis industry is the fact that we can now legally grow a positive plant for a positive reason. The old scary reefer madness stigma is slowly ending,” said AJ Dominach, who works with Cannabis Innovations.

Since Louisiana laws are changing with CBC medically being legal, you will have to be willing to adapt to different types of situations and create opportunities to speak with your officials regarding your concerns in the industry. It’s important to contact your government representative and voice any issues you might have because this is a new industry in Louisiana and they are likely to work with your requests.

Our younger generation needs to become more familiar with the plant because the more research conducted the more people it could help in the future.

At the moment, industrial hemp is defined as <.3% Delta-9 THC and is legal at the federal and state level. You can grow and manufacture hemp with a license in the state of Louisiana. The law states that the only cannabinoid that remains an illegal substance and schedule-1 drug is Delta-9 THC and all other cannabinoids are technically considered “industrial hemp.” Whether it’s high in THC cannabinoids or CBD cannabinoids, cannabis has around 130 cannabinoids naturally produced in the plant itself. Some cannabinoids are CBD, CBG, CBN, Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC which have been labeled industrial hemp in the 2018 hemp farm bill, therefore they are allowed at the time. However, you do need to follow certain hemp regulations in your state and apply for a variety of different licenses if you intend to grow or sell cannabis in Louisiana.

In addition, positive findings were fairly typical for what one may have heard about the drug. Some of which being: feeling relaxed, feeling happy, getting the munchies, increased enjoyment of music and art, more appreciation of the surroundings, forgetting cares and worries, better imagination and visualization, increased creativity, as well as more enjoyment of the sexual activity and increased feelings of excitement.

The negative findings were also pretty typical for what one may

have heard which would include: being forgetful, oversleeping, overeating, not getting things done, concentration difficulties, neglecting work or duties, loss of balance or dizziness, problems with performing tasks and nausea.

In Mandeville, the shops are called Cannabis Innovations and Cannabis Natural Leaf. Both focus on the innovation of the cannabis plant. It is one of the most beneficial plants on the planet which is finally being recognized for its healing properties. According to the owners, they are out to help the public understand all the beneficial possibilities.

Dominach said, “For me, Cannabis has been a natural alternative to western medicine. I’ve noticed much fewer side effects and have been the best way to get hold of stress, pain, and worries. It enlightens one to motivate you through redundant and undesirable daily routines.”

They also strive on manufacturing most of our products and craft them using all-natural, plant-based ingredients. They are filled with essential oils, beeswax, terpenes, cannabinoids, and all kinds of organic products that have a variety of medicinal benefits.

Veronica Dominach, the owner of CBD Natural Leaf and part-owner of Cannabis Innovation, said, “CBD has changed some of my customer’s lives. It is so rewarding when they call me after using our CBD/hemp products and tell me that they have been able to stop taking pain medication and feel pain-free naturally. There are even moments when my customers tell me they go see their doctor and explain to them they have been using CBD/cannabis. Even the doctors notice a difference and they tell them to keep using it!”

Delta-8 THC flower, known as the better versions.

Education is key. Most of our officials don’t understand the cannabis plant because for years our government has spread false propaganda and failed to research the medicinal properties. If you understand the truths about the plant, you can truly help the industry by educating our political officials about all the natural medical benefits of cannabis.

Veronica said, “Cannabis has genuinely changed my life. Not only has it been the most rewarding industry to be a part of, but I’ve personally been able to use plant-based medicine instead of some harsh pharmaceuticals. Almost every day I receive a new testimony about how cannabis has changed someone’s life for the better since we started growing and manufacturing our cannabis products in Louisiana.”

With recreational use still illegal, you have to know your laws and updates. If you know enough about the plant, it can help you offer compliant cannabis products. You can get intimidated by some departments that aren’t too fond of cannabis, but if you are educated you can protect yourself and your cannabis business.

CBD OIl

The biggest opponent in Louisiana when it comes to cannabis legalization is the sheriff’s department. There are a lot of cannabis arrests in Louisiana and district attorneys don’t seem to want to back up the recreational bill, unfortunately.

Lately, the bill has been questioned more with the legalization of cannabis in Louisiana. People have voted and people from Mandeville have come forward to spark the legalization of cannabis.

Eventually, cannabis will be recreational in Louisiana because they will realize how much tax revenue they would be missing out on. If federally legal, which will encourage the states to create their cannabis program. There is a recreational bill at state capital right now which has a 35% tax on cannabis sales.

THC VS CBD

Therefore when time goes on, people will start to see that marijuana could change the world.

Cannabis Field

Cannabis will be an all-time drug to help more than the studies that’s why it should be legal. Soon the world will see what this infamous/famous drug will do in history.

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