Louisiana legislative committee signs off on cannabis legalization

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The number of legal cannabis states continues to grow rapidly

Marijuana legalization is seeing the light of day in the state of Louisiana and many marijuana enthusiasts could be in for more good news in the future. Yesterday, the bill that is making this a reality was passed by state lawmakers. Additional proposals were also discussed, such as the decriminalization case and others related to cannabis reform that will be analyzed tomorrow.

The House Criminal Justice Administration Committee had to go through several debates before reaching a 7-5 final result regarding the legalization bill. On the other hand, a 6-5 vote was obtained for the decriminalization bill. Due to these positive results, both bills will now head to the full Chamber. Should legalization be approved in the future, this would mean that adults over the age of 21 would be able to purchase and possess (up to two and a half pounds) marijuana from prior authorized retailers.

It is expected that, in order for adults to be authorized to grow up to six plants in their homes, a permit will be required, which will be properly created by regulators. Representative Richard Nelson’s bill has undergone several changes since its original creation, including a provision that gives local jurisdictions the ability to opt-out of allowing cannabis businesses in their area if they so choose. “There’s a proverb that says, ‘no matter how far you’ve gone down the wrong road, come back,'” Nelson said in his opening remarks. “That, I think, sums up our marijuana policy in a nutshell. Basically, we’ve relied on prohibition for the last 70 years, and I think now is the time to reevaluate where we are.”