Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law legislation that decriminalizes the possession of marijuana paraphernalia throughout Louisiana.
House Bill 165 was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month by a vote of 69 to 24. In May, it passed the Senate 24 to 14. Now, the measure has been signed into law by Governor Landry.
The proposed law “removes incarceration as a punishment for the possession of certain drug paraphernalia in quantities not exceeding those required for individual personal use.” It “provides that the punishment for the possession of certain drug paraphernalia in quantities not exceeding those required for individual personal use is a fine of:
(1) $100 on a first conviction.
(2) $500 on a second conviction.
(3) $2,500 on a third or subsequent conviction.”
In Louisiana, the possession of up to half an ounce (14 grams) of marijuana has been decriminalized since 2021. However, the law did not decriminalize the possession of marijuana paraphernalia, such as pipes and bongs. This has resulted in continued arrests and prosecutions, which contradicts the spirit of the 2021 law. House Bill 165 aims to remedy this discrepancy.
You can find the full one-page text of House Bill 165 by clicking here.
Separately, Governor Landry vetoed legislation (House Bill 391) that would have allowed for the automatic expungement of first-time marijuana possession convictions.
