The Mess of Legalization In Louisiana
Lawmakers in Louisiana made the move to pass legislation over two years ago that was meant to approve of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Since that time, lawful access for people in the state has been slowed down by a variety of challenges, amendments, and updates, etc.
And though they made the decision to signal that they might be interested in allowing the people to exercise their freedom to access cannabis, a number of heavy restrictions are coming along with that promise.
Among those restrictions is the rule that only the agricultural centers located at Southern University and Louisiana State University will be permitted to grow the cannabis to meet market demands. Another nonsensical rule is that the cannabis will only be available in the form of oils, sprays, pills, and topical applications. Which means that both vaporizing and smoking of cannabis will still be prohibited. You can smoke as many cigarettes as you want in Louisiana though.
Officials in the state have said that cannabis will be available for medicinal purposes.
However, not every illness is going to qualify in meeting their standards for legal access. They allegedly hope to eventually permit access for illnesses like cancer, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorders, and other illnesses. It's likely then that there will be people who need and want access but who still won't be permitted lawful access to obtain it.
It's alleged that doctors in the state so far have been slow in seeking permits to start giving out their physician recommendation form for cannabis to patients in the state; only two so far have sought permits. But when the time comes, perhaps it won't be long before other doctors feel the need to compete with them, prompting them to also seek their permits, rather than risk losing their patients for neglecting to consider cannabis as a treatment option for them.
While lawmakers have been slow in crafting their rules to permit the people to access cannabis lawfully, families and individuals in the state continue to suffer. And they continue to pressure officials to act faster in establishing lawful access for them to seek cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Polls have indicated that roughly 74 percent of the people are in support of having lawful access to cannabis
It's likely that it won't be until 2018 until they have their legalization for medicinal purposes established. In the meantime, New Orleans has also recently taken to decriminalizing cannabis possession in the city, which will now result in a fine for the individual rather than criminal charges. That fine could range anywhere from $40 - $100.
Current Situation...
Right now, Louisiana is regarded as the prison capital of the world. And there are currently many individuals who are spending life behind bars over victimless “crimes” related to cannabis activity. For example, one man received a life sentence for selling just $20 worth of cannabis to someone. Another, received a sentence to spend over 13 years of his life in a cage for having been found in possession of only two joints worth of cannabis.
Several years ago (back in 2015) new rules were passed which sought to drastically scale back the criminalization surrounding possession of cannabis in the state. Because there doesn't really seem to be any logical reason why someone should have to spend decades behind bars over a plant. However, under those rules, someone who is still found with less than 14 grams could still face up to 15 days behind bars or more; depending on how much they are found in possession of.
The prison industry in Louisiana is a multi-million dollar industry. And thousands of those individuals caught up in the prison machine are only there because of non-violent “crimes” they were found guilty of. As well, in many of those cases the judges allegedly weren't afforded any chance to exercise their own discretion when it came to sentencing, a great deal of sentences were mandatory; without any chance for parole.
Some have suggested that because Louisiana is billions of dollars in debt, that they are seeking to legalize cannabis in order to tax it so they can reap enough financial awards to try and clean up their fiscal mess. But since they've already proven to be irresponsible when it comes to balancing budgets, who knows if they'd even carry out such an initiative and use the money for clearing any debt.
While they take their time, families and individuals in the state are forced to wait; those who don't want to risk seeking it illegally. Or others, who have the means, are finding themselves moving to other states that currently permit cannabis for either recreational or medicinal purposes. Isn't it a shame that a bunch of bureaucrats need to make freedom so damn complicated.
Pics:
Pixabay
Pixabay
via vocativ.com/culture/society/whats-scary-fema/index.html
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Louisiana
https://www.mpp.org/states/louisiana/
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/few-louisiana-doctors-seek-marijuana-permit
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/louisiana_is_the_worlds_prison.html
https://louisianacannabis.org/nearly-three-of-four-louisiana-voters-favor-medical-marijuana/
http://www.ibtimes.com/louisiana-prison-capital-world-hosts-biggest-us-prison-convention-2278102
https://www.thedailybeast.com/life-in-prison-for-selling-dollar20-of-weed
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/bernard-noble-marijuana_us_55b6b838e4b0074ba5a5e160
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_45acc4c0-e17e-5e03-8159-6f8bf4c22bf7.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/13/us-prisoners-sentences-life-non-violent-crimes
https://www.thedailybeast.com/will-louisiana-be-the-first-southern-state-to-legalize-weed
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https://steemit.com/cannabis/@doitvoluntarily/big-pharma-funding-cannabis-opposition
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Its ridiculous I have a friend who went to jail five years for having a baby plant in his car, things need to change instead of putting these minor infractions in jail I could get medical marijuana if I wanted to because I have uncontrolled glaucoma so I'm thinking about it, will thanks for the info and have a wonderful weekend😊😊
Agreed @cecirod they are just sick oppressive laws orchestrated to control and conquer us. Crypto's are changing all of that. Here in South Africa it was legal for a day or three literally, till 'government' (and I use that term with cynicism) decided to re-think things for pretty much the same reason they do everywhere else. The reality is this herb is the most medicinal that ever existed and we will always find a way to use, grow, harvest and medicate with it regardless of their sick agenda. Set the weed free. Cheer$:)
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its like a joint weekend on Steemit , every other post today is cannabis related.
@cryptogrind Ellos son los verdaderos criminales, porque consumir marihuana te convierte en delincuente
This is such a prime example of the attitude toward cannabis in the southern, "Bible-belt" state.
Decades of racist stigma has been heaped on a plant that was once one of the leading economic drivers in the state of Ohio (hemp production). Further, the health benefits for those with chronic disease as well as the economic benefits to the state via taxation could greatly improve the finances of most states.
It's time we quit thinking cannabis is any more worse than tobacco or alcohol.
Medical use was law in New York State for a couple of years before any patients got direct access. It takes time to change the conversation. Great that it's happening, if slowly. (acceptable for now)
thank you for this piece & for including your sources, @doitvoluntarily
good post
Well, such laws are made to FAVOUR the rich and play down the effects and consequences that comes with it. I love your style of writing and the details given.
Well done
louisiana is almost its own country with its own brand of third-world corruption, it's no wonder the situation is an utter mess
The more restrictions, the more illegal and uncontrolled selling there will be. Legality encourages people who want to help others through cannabis.
great post.
@doitvoluntarily i'm surprised they do not make marijuana legal in New Orleans. Would just be an additional way to attract tourists from the southeast.
It is sad all the people who have been persecuted for consuming this plant