The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy (LABP) lists an active rulemaking project (Regulatory Project 2026-01) to amend LAC Title 46, Part LIII, Chapter 27 (Controlled Dangerous Substances). The stated intent includes adopting federal controlled substance regulations by reference, consolidating Louisiana-specific provisions into §2713, repealing redundant sections, and changing distributor reporting so ARCOS-related reports would be provided to the Board only upon request (reducing routine reporting burden). Compliance teams supporting CDS registrants (manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, etc.) should track this project because it may materially change Louisiana-specific procedural obligations and the frequency/trigger for ARCOS data submissions to the state regulator.
HB 568 (2026 Regular Session) proposes amendments to R.S. 40:981.3 (drug free zone enhancements for Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law violations). The engrossed bill would amend and reenact R.S. 40:981.3(D) and enact additional provisions (including a new subsection addressing controlled dangerous substance violations while smoking/vaping/otherwise abusing a substance on school property/within 2,000 feet/on a school bus) and a penalty carve-out for conduct also constituting a marijuana-related violation under R.S. 40:966(C)(2). Compliance teams should monitor because drug-free-zone enhancement rules can affect criminal exposure and enforcement posture for activities involving controlled substances near schools and school buses.
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy’s legislative proposals page includes a 2026 proposal titled '2026-A – CDS Schedules Update,' described as updating Louisiana controlled dangerous substances schedules to mirror federal scheduling actions. This is an early policy signal (not an enacted change) that may lead to future UCDSL scheduling updates. Compliance teams should monitor for subsequent bill introductions or rulemaking that would add/remove/reclassify controlled substances in Louisiana schedules.
Louisiana HB 152 (2026 Regular Session) is active legislative activity proposing to add new entries (opiates) to Schedule I (R.S. 40:964) of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, with new Schedule I entries referenced as R.S. 40:964(A)(108) through (120) in the research summary. Compliance impact: if enacted, affected substances would become Schedule I controlled substances under Louisiana law, impacting prohibited acts, enforcement exposure, and compliance programs for any entities that may handle or encounter these substances (e.g., forensic labs, healthcare/pharmacy, law enforcement evidence handling). Specific substance names and final effective date should be confirmed from the bill text/enrolled act upon enactment.
House Bill 152 (2026 Regular Session) proposes amendments to Louisiana’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law by adding certain substances to Schedule I in R.S. 40:964. The Senate Order of the Day materials list HB 152 with the caption 'Adds certain substances to the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law,' and the bill text PDF is cited as proposing new Schedule I entries. Compliance teams for controlled substance handling (manufacturers/distributors/pharmacies and related compliance programs) should monitor this bill because enactment would expand Schedule I controls for the newly listed substances, impacting inventory controls, security, recordkeeping, and potential criminal exposure for possession/distribution.
Louisiana Senate Bill 270 (2026 Regular Session) proposes to enact R.S. 40:1046.5 to require healthcare facilities to permit terminally ill patients to use recommended medical marijuana, subject to facility controls (e.g., restrictions on smoking/vaping, documentation/storage and written guidelines). The proposal explicitly addresses marijuana’s Schedule I status under the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law by directing facilities to follow medication-handling requirements applicable to Schedule II–IV drugs, and it includes an off-ramp allowing suspension of compliance if federal enforcement/agency action would prohibit compliance. Compliance teams in healthcare facilities should monitor this bill because it would create new operational obligations (policies, staff procedures, storage/handling and documentation) for medical marijuana administration/possession in facilities if enacted.
A Louisiana Legislature Senate committee amendments document (Substitute for SB 168) contains provisions that reference convictions for distribution or possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances listed in Schedules I–V of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (R.S. 40:961 et seq.) as part of eligibility/background or related regulatory provisions in a separate program area. This item does not appear to amend the UCDSL schedules or prohibited-acts sections directly, but it may affect compliance screening/eligibility criteria for roles or credentials that consider UCDSL-related convictions.
Louisiana House Bill 568 (2026 Regular Session) has been introduced to amend R.S. 40:981.3(D) and add R.S. 40:981.3(A)(4) and (E) to modify/enhance penalty provisions applicable to marijuana-related violations of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law occurring within 2,000 feet of a school zone. Compliance teams supporting operations near schools should monitor the bill because enacted changes could increase criminal exposure and alter enforcement risk for covered conduct.
Louisiana House Bill 152 (2026 Regular Session) has been introduced to amend the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law by enacting new Schedule I entries in R.S. 40:964, specifically proposed Schedule I(A)(108) through (120), to add certain opiates. If enacted, the newly listed substances would become subject to Louisiana Schedule I controls (e.g., restrictions on manufacture/distribution/possession and related compliance and enforcement obligations).
Louisiana HB 152 (2026 Regular Session), as introduced, proposes to amend the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law by enacting new Schedule I opiate entries at R.S. 40:964(Schedule I)(A)(108) through (120). The proposal would add a list of specified opioids/synthetic opioids (including certain nitazenes and fentanyl analog-related substances) to Schedule I, and directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to alphabetize/renumber the schedule entries. If enacted, impacted organizations would need to update controlled-substance lists and compliance controls tied to Louisiana Schedule I status.
Louisiana HB 568 (2026 Regular Session), as introduced, proposes amendments to R.S. 40:981.3 (drug-free zone provisions for violations of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law). The proposal would add explicit coverage for conduct involving smoking, vaping, or otherwise abusing a controlled dangerous substance on/near school property (within 2,000 feet) or on a school bus, and includes an alternate penalty provision for certain marijuana-related conduct referencing R.S. 40:966(C)(2) (up to 1 year and/or up to a $1,000 fine per the bill text/digest summary in the research data). If enacted, organizations involved in compliance, enforcement, or institutional policy (e.g., schools, security, legal/compliance teams) should reassess how drug-free zone conduct is categorized and penalized under Louisiana law.
Louisiana HB 568 (2026 Regular Session), per the official bill digest, proposes to amend R.S. 40:981.3(D) and add R.S. 40:981.3(A)(4) and (E) to modify the penalty enhancement framework for Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law violations occurring within 2,000 feet of a school (“drug-free school zone”) when the violation is with respect to marijuana. The digest summary indicates a proposed maximum imprisonment of up to one year and an optional fine up to $1,000 for marijuana-related school-zone enhancements. Compliance impact: if enacted, this would change Louisiana criminal penalty exposure calculations for marijuana-related controlled-substance offenses in school-zone contexts (relevant to enforcement risk assessments and policy/training for regulated entities and stakeholders).
House Bill 15 amends R.S. 40:964 (Schedule I) under Louisiana’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law to add N-Desethyl isotonitazene and etonitazepipne (opiates) and ethylphenidate (stimulant) to Schedule I. Compliance teams should update controlled substance master lists, intake controls, and analytical/testing panels to reflect the newly scheduled substances as of the stated effective date.
Louisiana Senate Bill 154 amends the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law to add Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) to Schedule I (R.S. 40:964) and creates new R.S. 40:966.1 establishing prohibitions on possession, cultivation/production, and distribution of kratom/kratom products. The bill also repeals R.S. 40:989.3. Compliance teams supporting regulated/pharmacy/healthcare and enforcement stakeholders should update controlled-substance screening, controlled items lists, and related SOPs/training to reflect kratom’s Schedule I status and the new standalone offense structure and penalties.
Louisiana enacted Act No. 121 (HB 15, 2025), amending the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (UCDSL) to add new substances to Schedule I (R.S. 40:964). The act adds N-Desethyl isotonitazene and etonitazepine as Schedule I opiates, and ethylphenidate as a Schedule I stimulant, and directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to renumber/alphabetize schedule entries. Compliance teams (e.g., healthcare/pharmacy, law enforcement, forensic labs, institutions with controlled-substance controls) should update controlled substance screening lists, handling/procurement controls, and any internal policies tied to Schedule I status.
Louisiana enacted SB 154 (2025 Regular Session) to amend the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law by adding kratom’s primary alkaloids—7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine—to Schedule I (R.S. 40:964, miscellaneous schedule section referenced in the research data). The act also creates a new statutory offense, R.S. 40:966.1, addressing unlawful possession, production, or distribution of kratom, and includes related changes referenced in the enrolled act text. Compliance teams should update controlled-substance and prohibited-ingredient screens, product compliance determinations (especially for kratom-containing products), and Louisiana-specific legal risk assessments for possession/distribution and retail controls.
Louisiana Act 233 (HB 12, 2025 Regular Session) creates new crimes and penalties related to consumable hemp products and explicitly amends Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law-related provisions (including R.S. 40:961.1 and R.S. 40:966(A)(3), per the official résumé digest). Compliance impact: entities manufacturing, distributing, or selling consumable hemp products in Louisiana must implement age-gating and distribution controls, and review product/regulatory conformity requirements to avoid the new criminal exposure; the act also adjusts the boundary/operation of the UCDSL industrial hemp exemption and related controlled-substance applicability. The résumé digest states an effective date of August 1, 2025.
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy CDS rulemaking project proposes restructuring LAC 46:LIII, Chapter 27 by adopting federal controlled substance regulations (21 CFR Parts 1300–1399) by reference, consolidating Louisiana-specific deviations into a dedicated section, and repealing redundant provisions. The project also indicates a distributor reporting approach where ARCOS-related reports would be provided upon request (rather than routine submissions). Compliance teams for CDS licensees should plan for potential harmonization with federal DEA requirements and identify Louisiana-specific deltas once finalized, given the stated anticipated effective date.
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy has published a regulatory proposal package (Regulatory Proposal 2025-F) to amend its Controlled Dangerous Substances rules (Title 46, Part LIII, Chapter 27). The proposal described in the draft would reduce redundancy by incorporating federal DEA controlled substance regulations (21 CFR Parts 1300–1399) by reference and consolidating Louisiana-specific deviations into a specified section (e.g., §2713), with repeal/cleanup of redundant provisions. If adopted, controlled-substance registrants and pharmacies would need to align procedures and documentation to the updated LAC structure and the incorporated federal requirements as referenced by the Board rule.
Louisiana enacted Act 233 (HB 12, 2025), which (per the official résumé digest) creates new offenses related to consumable hemp products (including restrictions involving persons under 21) and makes related changes clarifying how certain hemp products and activities interact with the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, including industrial hemp exemption provisions referenced in R.S. 40:961.1 and related controlled substance provisions. The résumé digest states an effective date of August 1, 2025. Compliance teams involved in hemp/consumable hemp products (manufacture, distribution, retail) should reassess Louisiana product legality determinations, age-gating/sales controls, distribution practices, and any policies relying on UCDSL hemp exemptions.