Louisiana bill allowing state employees to use medicinal cannabis receives unanimous vote

House Bill 988 was passed by the Louisiana House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on May 19. If the law becomes law, it would create protections for government employees who wish to use medicinal cannabis. While it would prevent employees from being fired and discriminating against those who wish to apply, it does not apply to public safety workers such as firefighters or law enforcement.

Bill sponsor Rep. Mandie Landry is adamant that her bill is a healthier choice for Louisians. “There are many people who do not want to take opioids for their long-term PTSD and pain management because of the high probability of opioid addiction,” Landry said, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. “This has proven to be a better option than them.”

The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy estimates that there are 43,000 medicinal cannabis users in the state and only nine dispensaries currently serve them.

At the committee meeting, Louisiana Department of Administration communications director Jacques Berry noted that his own department already has regulations in place to prevent discrimination against medicinal cannabis use. To help, he shared his thoughts on standardizing regulations across the board with an example of a workplace harassment law that works in a similar way. “Every agency had a sexual harassment policy, but they were everywhere and Dr. [and Rep. Barbara] Carpenter wanted stricter, more consistent standards,” Berry said. “She wrote a very good law and it works very well.”

Similarly, Rep. Ed Larvadain spoke of looking ahead. “We’re going to have to change the way we approach medical marijuana. But that’s a first step.” He also requested that he be invited to work with Landry to find a solution that would also protect firefighters and law enforcement officials. “Many of these men and women are in chronic pain from having to climb through windows and being abused by police officers over the years,” Larvadain said.

Many supporters publicly spoke out in favor of the bill at the session. Tony Landry, a council member for the Veterans Action Council, commented that neither law enforcement nor firefighters should be allowed to consume CBD because “over time it can build up in your body and cause a positive test. I’m in favor of this law and I just think we don’t have to leave an employee behind.”

Last summer, Louisiana decriminalized cannabis with Law 247, which imposed a $100 fine (or a subpoena) for possession of 14 grams or less. At the time, Peter Robins-Brown, Policy & Advocacy Director at Louisiana Progress, issued a statement regarding the news. “Decriminalizing marijuana will really change the lives of people in our state,” Robins-Brown said. “This is an important first step in modernizing Louisiana’s marijuana policy and another milestone in the ongoing effort to address our incarceration crisis that has trapped so many people in a cycle of poverty and prison. Now is the time to ensure everyone knows their rights under this new law and that law enforcement officials understand how to properly implement it.”

Earlier this year, however, House Bill 700 was introduced to detain minors who possessed small amounts of cannabis. On March 23, the Louisiana Progress tweeted a response to the bill’s approach to keeping minors off cannabis. “In #lalege Admin. of Crimea. Justice, the cmte hears HB700 from @LarryBagleyLA, which would criminalize juveniles more severely than adults for possession of less than 14 grams of marijuana, with possible jail time. Very very very very very very bad idea. #lagow“. It is currently awaiting discussion in the House.