Title:
La.: Ask your representative to support reducing marijuana penalties TODAY!
Message:
Yesterday, Rep. Austin Badon’s HB 103, a bill that would reduce marijuana possession penalties for second and subsequent offenses, received a vote on the House floor. While it received 46 “yes” votes to 45 “no” votes, it unfortunately failed to pass, as any bill in the Louisiana House must receive at least 53 “yes” votes to move forward.
The positive news is that the bill can still be reconsidered, and Rep. Badon has filed a motion to bring it back up for another vote. It only needs an additional seven “yes” votes, so please continue urging your legislators to support HB 103!
Rep. Badon’s proposal would change the maximum sentence for a second possession offense to one year rather than five; a third offense would carry a two-year maximum sentence instead of 20; and the maximum sentence for a fourth offense would be set at five years rather than life. In addition to lowering penalties and possible incarceration time for marijuana possession offenses, the proposal would also remove marijuana possession from the list of offenses that receive mandatory minimum sentences. Please ask your legislators to support this sensible proposal NOW. Then, ask your friends and family to do the same.
