Louisiana House Approves Bill Criminalizing Marijuana Use Near College Campuses
Louisiana's House has passed a bill imposing jail time and fines for marijuana use near schools and college campuses, sparking criticism from cannabis reform advocates
Key Points
- 1Louisiana House passed a bill criminalizing marijuana use within 2,000 feet of schools, including colleges
- 2The bill allows for up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000 for violations
- 3Advocates argue the bill reverses recent decriminalization efforts in the state
- 4The legislation now moves to the Louisiana Senate for consideration
Louisiana lawmakers have advanced legislation that could send individuals to jail for up to one year if they are caught smoking marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school, including college campuses. The bill, authored by Rep. Gabe Firment (R), passed the House of Representatives with a 59-34 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The measure targets those who violate drug laws by smoking, vaping, or otherwise using controlled substances near educational properties or on school buses
Cannabis reform advocates are raising alarms about the potential impact of the proposed law, which they argue reverses recent progress in decriminalizing marijuana in Louisiana. Kevin Caldwell, Southeast legislative manager for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), criticized the bill, stating, “HB 568 would make cannabis use a felony in huge swaths of urban and suburban areas. Two thousand feet is a little over ⅓ of a mile.” Caldwell further noted that the bill could result in jail time and fines of up to $1,000 for minor infractions, highlighting that even students in dorm rooms could face incarceration
Louisiana had previously moved to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. In 2021, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a bill eliminating jail time for possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis, a move celebrated by reform advocates. The new legislation, however, is seen by critics as a return to the harsh penalties that once characterized the state's approach to cannabis offenses. “This is an attempt to bring back the draconian penalties that Louisiana was infamous for in decades past,” Caldwell said
While the House debates stricter penalties, the Louisiana Senate has recently approved measures to expand access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients in hospitals and to establish a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program funded by opioid settlement money. In addition, Rep. Candace Newell (D) has introduced a bill proposing an adult-use cannabis pilot program, though similar efforts have struggled to gain traction in the state’s conservative legislature
From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, Louisiana’s legislative activity signals a deep divide over cannabis policy, with some lawmakers pushing for criminalization even as others pursue medical and research reforms. The outcome of these competing initiatives could define the state’s cannabis landscape for years to come, making this a critical moment for stakeholders and advocates to monitor
