§1469. Industrial hemp research

            A.(1) The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and the Southern University Agricultural Center are authorized to cultivate, handle, and process industrial hemp and industrial hemp seeds for research and development of new varieties.

            (2) The universities in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection may contract with licensed hemp seed producers for development of seed for distribution through a process as determined by the department.

            B. The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy is authorized to handle and process industrial hemp for medicinal research and development.

            C. The University of Louisiana at Monroe Agribusiness Program is authorized to cultivate, handle, and process industrial hemp for product research and development.

            D. Except for those entities exempted pursuant to this Part, all industrial hemp licensees whose intent is to perform industrial hemp research shall submit an annual industrial hemp research plan to the department. The department shall adopt rules establishing the requirements of the industrial hemp research plan. Such rules shall include performance-based sampling requirements.

            Acts 2019, No. 164, §1, eff. June 6, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 344, §1; Acts 2021, No. 336, §1.