Louisiana Officially Decriminalizes Cannabis Possession [View all]

[Katashi_itto]

(I DIDNT WRITE THE HEADLINE PEOPLE)


When Governor Bobby Jindal signs HB 149 into law sometime this week (perhaps today), Louisiana will officially become America’s 19th state with decriminalized marijuana possession.

Just two weeks after the state’s Senate gave the bill its overwhelming blessing, Louisiana’s House too agreed that weed and those that inhale the stuff should be unchained, voting 74-19 in favor of the new legislation.

And here’s exactly what the bill will do:

The bill proposes the following changes:

• It carves out a new penalty section for possession of less than 14 grams of marijuana, making it punishable by maximum sentence of 15 days in jail and a $300 fine.

• It does not change penalties for first-offense possession of marijuana involving amounts between 14 grams and 2.5 pounds, keeping the penalty for the misdemeanor charge at six months in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense.

• Second offenses are a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.

• Third offenses are a felony punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and two years in prison.

• Fourth and subsequent offenses are a felony punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and eight years in prison.

• The proposal also allows offenders one chance to apply to have their record expunged if they aren’t convicted of a marijuana violation within two years of the first offense. [NOLA.com]

http://www.thesmokersclub.com/news/louisiana-officially-decriminalizes-cannabis-possession/