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Most Louisianians believe the state's tough marijuana laws should be changed, according to poll results released Thursday by Public Policy Polling. The poll results were released just three months after lawmakers in Baton Rouge failed to pass legislation to lessen penalties for repeat offenders.
State law says anyone convicted of possessing any amount of marijuana -- even a single joint -- can be jailed up to six months on a first offense. A repeat offender can be sentenced up to five years and face up to a $2,500 fine, and anyone convicted three or more times is open to a 20-year jail sentence and up to a $5,000 fine.
Of those polled, 64 percent said they are against the strict penalties for repeat offenders and more than half said they would be in favor of a simple $100 fine for those found in possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.
While nearly half of respondents -- 47 percent -- said they would support putting a much lower cap on repeat offender penalties, more than half -- 53 percent -- said they would be in favor of following the example of Colorado and Washington in allowing pot to be regulated and taxed by the state.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents were opposed to both those propositions, but more checked the "not sure" box for the lowered penalties question than for legalization.
Those polled exhibited the highest level of support for medical marijuana, however, with 65 percent saying they would be in favor of seriously and terminally ill patients having access to it.
The laws governing pot possession and distribution are not likely to change any time soon. Last year, in an ill-fated attempt to ease penalties for repeat offenders, a New Orleans area lawmaker introduced legislation aimed at capping jail time for simple possession of marijuana at eight years and fines at $2,500.
It failed three times, the last time by just two votes. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the change would have saved the state $2.2 million in 2014 in reduced incarceration costs.
While PPP is a left-leaning polling firm, the demographics in Thursday's poll skewed right and white, with 80 percent classifying themselves as conservative or very conservative, and 72 percent as white.
While New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas represent around 44 percent of the state's overall population, it only accounted for 36 percent of the respondents contacted for the poll.
PPP is based in Raleigh, N.C., and often undertakes polling for Democratic candidates and politicians. It was recognized by Fordham University as providing the most accurate polling information during the 2012 presidential election.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: nola.com
Author: Lauren McGaughy
Contact: Contact Us - NOLA.com
Website: Marijuana laws in Louisiana should be more lenient, new poll results say | NOLA.com
State law says anyone convicted of possessing any amount of marijuana -- even a single joint -- can be jailed up to six months on a first offense. A repeat offender can be sentenced up to five years and face up to a $2,500 fine, and anyone convicted three or more times is open to a 20-year jail sentence and up to a $5,000 fine.
Of those polled, 64 percent said they are against the strict penalties for repeat offenders and more than half said they would be in favor of a simple $100 fine for those found in possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.
While nearly half of respondents -- 47 percent -- said they would support putting a much lower cap on repeat offender penalties, more than half -- 53 percent -- said they would be in favor of following the example of Colorado and Washington in allowing pot to be regulated and taxed by the state.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents were opposed to both those propositions, but more checked the "not sure" box for the lowered penalties question than for legalization.
Those polled exhibited the highest level of support for medical marijuana, however, with 65 percent saying they would be in favor of seriously and terminally ill patients having access to it.
The laws governing pot possession and distribution are not likely to change any time soon. Last year, in an ill-fated attempt to ease penalties for repeat offenders, a New Orleans area lawmaker introduced legislation aimed at capping jail time for simple possession of marijuana at eight years and fines at $2,500.
It failed three times, the last time by just two votes. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the change would have saved the state $2.2 million in 2014 in reduced incarceration costs.
While PPP is a left-leaning polling firm, the demographics in Thursday's poll skewed right and white, with 80 percent classifying themselves as conservative or very conservative, and 72 percent as white.
While New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas represent around 44 percent of the state's overall population, it only accounted for 36 percent of the respondents contacted for the poll.
PPP is based in Raleigh, N.C., and often undertakes polling for Democratic candidates and politicians. It was recognized by Fordham University as providing the most accurate polling information during the 2012 presidential election.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: nola.com
Author: Lauren McGaughy
Contact: Contact Us - NOLA.com
Website: Marijuana laws in Louisiana should be more lenient, new poll results say | NOLA.com
