Edwards Signs Bill To Reduce Penalty for Marijuana Possession
Governor John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 652 that reduces the penalty for possessing a small amount of cannabis in the state of Louisiana.
This new law will make possession of half an ounce of marijuana a misdemeanor offense and will carry a fine of $100 and no jail time, even for repeat offenders. The Louisiana House first passed the proposed bill by a 68-25 vote, the Senate voted to give the bill final passage with 20-17 majority, and Governor Edwards signed it into law yesterday.
Edwards said in a press release:
This is not a decision I took lightly. In addition to carefully reviewing the bill, I also believe deeply that the state of Louisiana should no longer incarcerate people for minor legal infractions, especially those that are legal in many states, that can ruin lives and destroy families, as well as cost taxpayers greatly.
He went on to say he was pleased the decision had bipartisan support in the Louisiana legislature and that this is just another step in his administration's mission for justice reform in the state.