Ask your state senator to allow — but not tax — flower cannabis.
This evening, the Louisiana Senate is scheduled to consider allowing raw/flower medical cannabis (HB 391), along with a separate bill that would impose state and local sales tax on it (HB 514). Both bills have already passed the House.
Ask your state senator to vote “yes” on allowing flower (HB 391) and “no” on taxing suffering patients (HB 514).
We also have disappointing news on the legalization front. Rep. Richard Nelson’s marijuana legalization bill (HB 699) was pulled from consideration on the House floor after a companion bill to tax sales (HB 434) was voted down. The tax bill required a two-thirds vote, but only received 47 yeas and 49 nays.
On a brighter note, Gov. John Bel Edwards recently acknowledged legalization “is going to happen in Louisiana eventually.” His comments suggest he is beginning to come around on the issue.
In other news, Rep. Cedric Glover’s bill to stop jailing those found with up to 14 grams of cannabis (HB 652) has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow. It already passed the House in a 68-25 vote.
Please send a note to your state senator to ask them to support Rep. Glover’s decriminalization bill. Let them know Louisiana needs to stop turning lives upside down over a plant that is safer than alcohol.
Thank you for supporting humane cannabis policies!