Cannabis in Louisiana
Cannabis in Louisiana concerns the drug cannabis in Louisiana, United States, where it is legal for medical usage since 2015,[1] but illegal for recreational usage. First time possession is a criminal offense, but was reduced to a $300 fine and 15 days in jail in 2015.
Contents
Prohibition (1920s)[edit]
Sources give varying dates for the prohibition of cannabis in Louisiana, generally either 1924[2] or 1927.[3][4]
Despite this law, and newspaper accounts of contemporaneous cannabis use in New Orleans, in 1930 there were only 30 marijuana convictions in the entire state.[5]
Reduction of criminal penalties (2015)[edit]
On June 30, 2015, Governor Bobby Jindal signed SB 143, which significantly reduced penalties for possession of cannabis. Under the bill, first time possession is punishable by a $300 fine and 15 days in jail, a second offense by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, a third offense by up a $2,500 fine and up to two years in jail, and fourth or subsequent offenses by up to a $5,000 fine and eight years in prison.[6]
Medical cannabis (2015)[edit]
On June 30, 2015, Governor Bobby Jindal also signed HB 149, which sets up a framework for dispensing marijuana for medical purposes.[7] It is expected to take at least until 2017 until the structures are in place to dispense medical cannabis to any patients.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Louisiana Clears Legislative Hurdle to Dispensing Medical Marijuana
- ^ Steven R. Belenko (1 January 2000). Drugs and Drug Policy in America: A Documentary History. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-29902-5.
- ^ Stephen R. Kandall (1999). Substance and Shadow: Women and Addiction in the United States. Harvard University Press. pp. 110–. ISBN 978-0-674-85361-4.
- ^ C. W. M. Wilson (22 October 2013). The Pharmacological and Epidemiological Aspects of Adolescent Drug Dependence: Proceedings of the Society for the Study of Addiction, London, 1 and 2 September 1966. Elsevier. pp. 360–. ISBN 978-1-4831-8616-0.
- ^ University of Southwestern Louisiana. Center for Louisiana Studies (2005). The Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Series in Louisiana History. Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana. p. 37.
- ^ "Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Signs Marijuana Reform Bills". Thedailychronic.net. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
- ^ "Bobby Jindal signs marijuana bills that reform criminal penalties, medical marijuana access". Nola.com. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
- ^ "Louisiana marijuana laws: Lesser pot penalties, medical pot OK'd". The Cannabist. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
