Louisiana
Louisiana medical marijuana leader touts industry growth, safety: ‘We’ve done it right.’
After over five years of legal cannabis sales in the state, Good Day Farm Louisiana President John Davis maintains that Louisiana’s medical marijuana market is the best in the South.
At a Rotary Club meeting Wednesday, Davis touted the industry’s safety, oversight and stability, factors he says are why Louisiana is ahead of other states that have legalized marijuana sales.
“The program has matured,” Davis said at the meeting. “It’s scaled, and most importantly, compared to all these other states that got out ahead of us, here we’re safe, we’re consistent, we’re regulated, we have oversight, and we have economic stability, which is not seen in other states.”
The Louisiana Department of Health regulates the industry from cultivation to retail in what Davis describes as a “very narrow playing field.”
Good Day Farm is one of two licensed cannabis growers that cultivate products for the 10 licensed retailers in the state. The company originally partnered with the LSU Agricultural Center to operate growing facilities in Ruston and Baton Rouge. They also operate dispensaries, including a 10,000-square-foot retail location in Lake Charles, the largest dispensary in the South.
Good Day Farm Louisiana distributes approved medical marijuana products to licensed dispensaries in Louisiana. Ilera Holistic Healthcare holds the other cannabis growing license in the state.
The medical marijuana patient base has boomed over the past two years. From the first quarter of 2024 to the last quarter of 2025, the number of patients has more than doubled, according to data Davis presented at the meeting. Nearly 150,000 people in Louisiana are part of the state’s medical marijuana program — that’s 3.2% of the state’s population.
With increased access to the product, a wide variety of products and an expanding consumer base, prices have fallen. Average prices across all products, which include cannabis flower, tinctures, vape devices and edibles, is about $47, Davis said, and overall medical marijuana prices have dropped about 21% from mid-2024 to January this year.
Stigma surrounding marijuana has fallen, too, he said, crediting the state’s growers and retailers acting as “good stewards” for the industry’s stability.
“The legislature sees how we’re behaving,” he said in an interview following the meeting. “The regulators see how we’re operating, and we’ve done a very good job staying in our swim lane and complying with the rules.”
Product safety is top of mind, too — 98.5% of Good Day Farm products have passed the state department of health’s tests to ensure the potency of the products matches the potency printed on the labels, he said.
Davis touted Louisiana’s strong regulation of the medical marijuana market amid other state’s challenge to manage the growing industry. In Oklahoma, a study commissioned by the state’s marijuana authority found that the marijuana supply is at least 32 times greater than demand in the state. Washington and Oregon have also struggled with marijuana surpluses.
“We’re a strong state,” Davis said. “We’ve done it right.”
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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