Marijuana Moment
Lawmakers in both chambers of Louisiana’s legislature have now signed off on two separate pieces of cannabis-related legislation, sending bills to the governor that would decriminalize marijuana paraphernalia and make people with past cannabis possession convictions eligible for pardon relief.
On Wednesday, House lawmakers approved changes to the bills that the Senate made last week. The measures, both sponsored by Rep. Delisha Boyd (D), next head to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry (R).
One bill, HB 165, would limit the penalty for the possession, sale and use of marijuana paraphernalia to a $100 fine. Under existing law, cannabis paraphernalia carries a penalty of up to $300 and 15 days behind bars on the first offense, which increases on later offenses. A second conviction carries up to a $1,000 fine and imprisonment of not more than six months, while third and subsequent convictions carry fines of up to $2,500 and imprisonment “with or without hard labor” for up to two years.
Boyd said ahead of the vote that Senate amendments “were just put on to clarify that this is for personal, not wholesale usage” of paraphernalia. House members voted 69-24 to concur with the other chamber’s changes.\
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