The bill that will eliminate jail time for anyone caught with a small amount of marijuana, now is in Governor John Bel Edwards’ hands to sign into law – or not.
As The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports, the state Senate voted 20-17, approving Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover’s House Bill 652. The bill passed with the required 20 votes it needed.
The bill decriminalizes possession of marijuana up to 14 grams, which is a half-ounce. Currently, anyone caught with a half-ounce of pot will face a $300 fine and up to 15 days in jail. Glover’s bill changes the penalty to a misdemeanor summons and a $100 fine.
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau, presented the bill to the Senate saying, “I’m not here to talk about the pros or cons of whether marijuana should be legal in Louisiana," Luneau said. "This is a common-sense approach to take care of a problem that plagues us across the state. We’re spending thousands, probably millions of dollars ... keeping people in jail for offenses that they should not be in jail for.”
It is now up to the governor to decide to sign the bill, let it sit and it automatically becomes law, or veto the bill altogether. Governor Edwards’ office has not said if he plans to sign the bill or veto it.
If Edwards does sign the bill; Louisiana will join 27 other states who already decriminalized pot possession.
