By The Louisiana House of Representatives recently passed a bill to improve the state’s expungement program for cannabis possession convictions. Rep. Delisha Boyd sponsored the bill, which passed by a vote of 69-30. “House Bill 286 seeks to reduce first-offense marijuana expungement fees. said. hearing May 23rd.
Article recently posted by the Louisiana House Democratic Caucus Social media About the passage of legislation. “This bill passed the House today to make it easier for people to get post-conviction relief and the justice they need and deserve. #Larege #Ragab”
of Specification The bill was amended by members of the House of Representatives to include the adoption of legislation that would only apply to 14 grams or less, and stating that fees for those convicted of misdemeanor possession of cannabis would be set at a maximum of $300. rice field.
According to the bill, these charges will be distributed immediately to the appropriate channels. “The Clerk shall immediately direct the processing fees collected to the Sheriff and the District Attorney, and the amount of the Processing Fee, upon receipt, shall be transferred in equal proportions to the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s General Fund. shall be,” the bill states. state.
HB-286 is currently pending in the Senate. On May 24th, each title was read aloud, put on the calendar and read a second time, followed by a second reading on May 25th. Judiciary Committee C.
Another Louisiana bill was passed by a commission on May 23. According to Rep. Mandy Landry, House Bill 351 It passed the Labor Relations Commission, which is notoriously difficult to pass legislation. Mr. Landry was quoted as saying, “Nothing is going to come out of the labor board here.” Fox 8. “There is no minimum wage, no job protection…it’s really hard.” The bill would protect employees with medical marijuana cards by providing unemployment benefits if they were fired because they tested positive for cannabis. It is an object.
HB-351 was passed by a 6-5 vote, but opposition parties expressed concerns about employer liability if employees were under the influence of cannabis while on the job. One commissioner said the bill was not the right solution, arguing that it would need to be “very heavily scrutinized for a considerable period of time.”
Mr. Landry responded by insisting that a solution is needed now. “Medical cannabis is legal” Landry said. “Everyone has the right to question their employer or the state and say, ‘Why did you lose your job for using something legal?'” This is a state-created problem. ”
In April, two Senators, Senators Stewart Kathy and Jay Morris, claimed they were misunderstood when voting to approve Senate Bill 219. “Last Congress, we unknowingly created a recreational THC market in Louisiana,” Kathy said. “It was never the intention of Congress to authorize the mass distribution of the unregulated THC psychotropic drug market statewide.”
“If we legalize [recreational THC], it needs to be done openly and honestly, and it’s not being done,” Morris explained. “It was sold to Congress as if they didn’t allow psychoactive substances.” HB-351 hasn’t moved forward since Kathy and Morris made those statements.
Cannabis decriminalization in Louisiana went into effect in August 2021, along with 250 other laws. Louisiana Progress Director of Policy and Advocacy Peter Robbins-Brown expressed hope for his future. “Marijuana decriminalization will make a real difference to the lives of our people,” Robbins-Brown said. “This is an important first step in modernizing marijuana policy in Louisiana and a new step in our ongoing effort to address the incarceration crisis that keeps so many people trapped in cycles of poverty and prison. It’s also a milestone: Now is the time to make sure everyone understands their rights under this new law and that law enforcement officers understand how to properly enforce it.”
