Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Calls for Decriminalization of Marijuana Use
Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Board of Directors of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has adopted a policy denouncing the criminalization of “responsible consumption of marijuana by adults in private.” The full text of the policy statement is as follows:
We believe that marijuana prohibition financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, and disproportionately impacts students, lower income classes, African Americans, and other ethnic minorities who bear the brunt of cannabis arrests and prosecutions. The responsible consumption of marijuana by adults in private should not be defined as criminal behavior deserving of arrest, potential jail time, a criminal record, and the lifelong stigma that accompanies it. Criminalizing marijuana is a disproportionate response to what, at worst, is a health issue, not a criminal justice issue.
To view the official press release, click here.
