We want you guys consuming PRIMO cannabis with peace of mind and confidence that you’re not breaking any weed laws. It’s incredibly confusing with everything that’s going on in the states, and there seems to be little agreeance between them all. But what does it really mean to be legal? We’ll make it real simple for you in this series, so you can pass it on to the homies without having to sift through all the legislative bullshit. It’s easy, we’re calling it Weed Laws For Dummies to inform you about the necessities at home and abroad. This is episode 6: Louisiana Marijuana Laws.
LOUISIANA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH CANNABIS HISTORICALLY
Louisiana has a complex and winding history with cannabis, one that on paper seems better than its actual track record. Originally prohibited in the late 1920s like most states, Louisiana’s bayous and swamps still seemed to influence the history of the plant. From famous jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, a renowned viper of the movement, and lesser-known pianist James T. Booker, who said in his song “Junco Partner” if he had a billion dollars he would buy up all the land around Angola Prison, where many are still serving marijuana sentences, and grow weed there until 1992 (but presumably it would still stand). Even more recently, Louisiana hip hop artists like Boosie have been advocates and martyrs of the Creole State, where possession of a single joint is still punishable for up to six months in jail in some parts of the state.
LOUISIANA WEED LAWS DOS & DONT’S
The current state of weed in Louisiana is just as muddled. While large population centers Baton Rouge and New Orleans have decriminalized the plant, there’s still a prohibition on its use recreationally. In 2015, their governor signed a provision, HB149, to establish medical marijuana dispensaries, but the government has dragged its feet to make that a reality. Legislators have taken years to set the boundaries, hire pharmacists, determine growers and in general, have kept as much red tape between the laws passing and its implementation. Estimates now say medical marijuana should be fully available for state-sanctioned purchase by summer 2019, but who knows what other bumps cannabis advocates could face in the coming months.
