Louisiana legislators are preparing for another attempt to legalize cannabis in the state. At least two reform proposals have been filed this year to address marijuana-related issues.
Rep. Candace Newell (D)—who has made repeated attempts to end criminalization—discussed her latest legislation in an interview with Louisiana First News that aired on Saturday, describing a proposed three-year pilot program that is “designed to test and evaluate parameters of the implementation of a permanent adult-use cannabis program,” according to a legislative analysis.
Newell stated that he was looking for another source of revenue in Louisiana, aside from legalizing recreational marijuana. “I’m talking about statewide, across the board, education on the product—the use of the product, the dangers of it and how it can be beneficial.”
From her point of view, she added, “what’s been seen in the states that have done the complete blanket legalization, regulation, and that’s failing.”
She also emphasized that legalizing cannabis and taxing it for adults could generate revenue.
“We can have that additional revenue and continue to stand up and support the programs that we already have in place—and not constantly putting the funding of those programs on the back of our taxpayers,” she said.
The Louisiana Department of Health will be in charge of overseeing the program. It is designed to assess “potential risks, challenges or limitations that may arise prior to a possible permanent rollout”.
This would allow for “real-time feedback, data collection and analysis to determine the efficacy of the potential permanent pilot program or temporary program in addition to identifying unintended outcomes.”
Pilot program participants will only be medical marijuana dispensaries licensed by August 1, 2022, in selected regions.
“No later than ninety days before the commencement of the pilot program, each retail permit holder in a region authorized… shall notify the department of its intent to participate in the pilot program and identify one retail location in the region that will participate in the pilot program,” the bill text says. The designated retail location can serve both qualified patients who are purchasing marijuana recommended for therapeutic purposes and adult cannabis users.
A second measure introduced this session by Rep. Edmond Jordan would set up the State for legalizing marijuana use among adults. The legislation’s intent is to set up the infrastructure of a legal market, but it does not detail the core elements of that system.
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The bill filings come nearly a year after the Republican governor of Louisiana signed bills to decriminalize marijuana paraphernalia and enact restrictions on the hemp market.
This came the day after Gov. Jeff Landry (R) vetoed a measure that would have allowed him and future governors to issue pardons for people with past cannabis convictions, he gave final approval to the paraphernalia decriminalization proposal from Rep. Delisha Boyd (D).
As it stands in Louisiana, possession of up to 14 grams (or half an ounce) of marijuana is decriminalized, punishable by a $100 fine without the threat of jail time.
The former governor of Georgia, Mr. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law to simplify expungements in cases of marijuana possession for first time convictions.
Hawaii advocates withdraw support for medical marijuana expansion bill due to changes made by conference committee
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