Are marijuana possession penalties too harsh in Louisiana?  One state lawmaker thinks so and wants to make a change.

New Orleans State Representative Austin Badon said current law allows a judge to sentence a third-time marijuana possession offender to 20 years in prison.  The lawmaker told the Louisiana Radio Network the crime does not fit the punishment.

Badon's proposed bill would lower the maximum sentence for a second conviction from five years to two.  A third conviction would face a maximum five year sentence.

Badon told the Louisiana Radio Network similar law passed last year, but failed to pass the senate.  The biggest reason he is pushing the law is to save the state some money by preventing extremely long prison sentences for repeat pot possession offenders.

The bill will be discussed when this year's legislative session begins March 10th.

 

Louisiana Looks Into Legalizing Marijuana

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