RELEASE: Louisiana Will Make History When Its New Marijuana Decriminalization Law Goes Into Effect on Sunday, August 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–July 30, 2021
Peter Robins-Brown, Policy & Advocacy Director, Louisiana Progress, (504) 256-8196, peter@louisianaprogress.org
Louisiana is on the verge of making history by decriminalizing possession of personal-use marijuana. Louisiana Progress and State Rep. Cedric Glover, who sponsored the bill to decriminalize marijuana in the legislature, are teaming up to promote an FAQ on the new law and to launch an awareness campaign to help Louisianans know their new rights.
BATON ROUGE, LA | July 30, 2021—On Sunday, August 1, Louisiana will finally join the ranks of U.S. states that have reformed their marijuana laws when Act 247 (House Bill 652) goes into effect. On that date, possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana will be punishable by a fine of up to $100 or a court summons, without the possibility for jail or prison time, no matter how many times someone is arrested for possessing that amount.
Nearly 20 states have legalized marijuana, and another dozen have decriminalized its possession to some extent. But few of those states are in the South, especially the Deep South. By passing House Bill 652, which was sponsored by State Representative Cedric Glover, the Louisiana legislature acknowledged that the time has come to rethink how (or, indeed, whether) we punish people for using marijuana.
“When I saw two city council members in my hometown of Shreveport--one conservative and one progressive--come together to decriminalize personal-use marijuana possession there, I knew it was time to take this reform to the state level,” said Rep. Glover. “Criminalizing marijuana possession is harmful to the people of Louisiana in so many ways, but it’s been particularly harmful for Black and Brown communities, lower-income folks, and young people. My fervent hope is that this new law will finally bring some relief and a feeling of freedom to those communities.”
“Marijuana decriminalization will truly make a difference in the lives of the people of our state,” according to Peter Robins-Brown, policy & advocacy director at Louisiana Progress. “It’s an important first step in modernizing marijuana policy in Louisiana, and it’s another milestone in the ongoing effort to address our incarceration crisis, which has trapped so many people in a cycle of poverty and prison. Now it’s time to make sure that everyone knows their rights under this new law, and that law enforcement officers understand how to properly implement it.”
With those goals in mind, Rep. Glover and Louisiana Progress worked together to answer some FAQs (frequently asked questions). You can find that FAQ sheet here.
We will also be launching an awareness campaign to promote the new law, which will include a social media push, more informational materials, outreach to law enforcement agencies and local elected officials and, eventually, depending on the current Covid outbreak, in-person events.
Who: Louisiana Progress, State Representative Cedric Glover
What: Louisiana will make history when the state’s new marijuana decriminalization law goes into effect on Sunday, August 1. Louisiana Progress and Rep. Glover worked together to develop an FAQ and will be launching an awareness campaign for the new law.
When: August 1, 2021
Contact:
Peter Robins-Brown, Policy & Advocacy Director, Louisiana Progress, (504) 256-8196, peter@louisianaprogress.org