The Louisiana governor has signed into law a bill that streamlines expungements of first-time marijuana possession convictions.
Governor John Bel Edwards (D) gave final approval on Monday, about two weeks after the measure by Rep. Delisha boyd (D), was passed through the legislature. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, gave the final approval to the bill on Monday.
After 90 days, people who have been convicted for possessing up 14 grams of marijuana as a first offence can ask the court to erase their records.
This would speed up the process of relief as people are currently required to wait five years for certain records to be expunged.
A House committee had amended the bill to state that misdemeanor marijuana cases could not involve more than fourteen grams. A provision that waived court fees for the first time cannabis expungements was also removed.
The measure is now in effect and will take effect on August 1. It sets a cap of $300 for fees to clear records.
The bill states that “the clerk shall immediately forward the collected processing fees to the sheriff and district attorney…and the processing fee amount will be remitted in equal amounts immediately upon receipt to the office district attorney and sheriff’s fund.”
The law also includes a template of a motion for expungement that can be filled out by the person and submitted to the court.
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Seven in 10 Louisianans support legalizing recreational marijuana possession for adults–and nine in 10 back medical cannabis legalization–according to a survey released earlier this month.
Despite the Louisiana legislature having stalled on marijuana legalization, legislators have taken several measures to reform cannabis laws in recent sessions and improve the state’s Medical Marijuana Program.
A bill that ensures that patients are eligible for unemployment benefits even if they have registered as medical cannabis patients recently passed a House Committee.
Legislators defeated separately a measure in committee which would have repealed an rarely used tax on illicit marijuana sales.
Late last year, a Louisiana legislative task group approved rules providing worker safety protections for medical marijuana patients.
Last year, regulators decided to continue allowing doctors to recommend medical marijuana via telemedicine.
Edwards has signed several marijuana reform bills during the last session. One of the most important measures is to expand the number medical dispensaries in the state. Another measure prevents police from searching homes based on the smell of cannabis.
Edwards signed a bill for decriminalizing possession up to 14 grams cannabis in 2021. The fine was $100 and no jail time.
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