Louisiana to consider marijuana possession penalty increases!

Published: March 31, 2010

There has been so much exciting news regarding marijuana policy lately. From California, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island debating whether or not to tax and regulate marijuana to New Jersey passing a medical marijuana law, states across the nation are rethinking their draconian marijuana policies. But what about Louisiana; where does the Bayou State fit in?

Unfortunately, legislators in Baton Rouge seem to be regressing. On March 29, Sen. Dan Claitor (R–Baton Rouge), introduced SB 576, legislation that would actually increase the penalty for second offense marijuana possession! Please e-mail your senator today and ask her or him to oppose this absurd legislation!

SB 576 would require an individual convicted of second-offense possession of marijuana to pay a fine of at least $250 — at most $2,000! — while at the same time retaining the provision that could also land the offender in prison with hard labor for five years. Additionally, Sen. Claitor’s "tough" legislation would require the offender spend at least 48 hours in jail, without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension, unless the offender attends mandatory drug abuse treatment and completes 48 hours of community service.

Recent budget cuts affecting state agencies, non-profits across Louisiana, and public television demonstrate that increasing penalties for possession of a substance safer than alcohol is absurd public policy. The money wasted on incarcerating men and women across Louisiana for simply possessing marijuana could be better spent on any of the vital services that have been hit hard. Let your legislator know the state should be reducing, not increasing, penalties for marijuana possession.

Thank you so much for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and for all your hard work. Please pass this alert on to friends and family who support sensible marijuana policies.