Louisiana legislative session ends with marijuana policy even worse

A disappointing legislative session for marijuana policy reform just ended in Louisiana. A bill to increase the maximum penalty for marijuana possession by people with certain prior marijuana convictions passed into law. While they increased the war on marijuana users, legislators also failed to take the sick and dying off the battlefield: No legislator had the courage or compassion to introduce a medical marijuana bill.

Sadly, seriously ill Louisiana residents will continue to be treated as criminals for using their medicine—until legislators have the heart to act. It is time to change the way Louisiana treats these patients. Please urge your legislators to support medical marijuana next session: Only you can convince them that this issue is vital to Louisiana residents.

Please take a few moments to Take Action. After you choose your favorite pre-written letter and type in your address, our site will automatically e-mail your letter to your legislators … all with the click of a few buttons. The whole process takes less than two minutes, but it makes a world of difference. Also, you can print the letters and send them to your legislators through regular mail.

And if Louisiana enacts a medical marijuana bill, it will join a growing number of medical marijuana states. Nine states have now enacted laws that protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and imprisonment. Earlier this year, MPP's intensive lobbying campaign led Vermont—the ninth state on this list—to pass a medical marijuana law, which went into effect on July 1. Polls consistently show massive public support for this issue. Louisiana legislators must learn that their constituents care about the fate of seriously ill Louisiana residents. This cannot happen without your help. Please Take Action now.

In addition to failing to protect sick and dying medical marijuana patients, the legislature increased the war on marijuana. On June 18, Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) signed H.B. 1132, which increased the maximum marijuana possession penalties for people with certain prior marijuana convictions.

The maximum penalties for marijuana possession convictions for people with prior cultivation or distribution convictions will be five years incarceration (rather than six months) for a first offense and up to 20 years in prison (from five years) for a second conviction. Third and subsequent convictions will still be penalized by up to 20 years of incarceration. Almost the entire legislature voted for H.B. 1132. The only legislator in the House or the Senate who voted against this bill was Rep. Derrick Shepherd (D-87th House District).

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