Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation last week that will send people to jail for smoking cannabis within 2,000 feet of high school and college campuses, one of the strictest campus-area marijuana enforcement measures in the country.
The Republican governor defended the move in a statement on X, saying he was "tired of going to college and high school campuses and being inundated with the smell of marijuana." Landry added that he's "tired of seeing drugs littering our high school and college campuses, hurting our students."
The law runs against the national trend toward decriminalization. Louisiana has allowed medical marijuana since 2019 but still has some of the most restrictive cannabis policies in the country, and the new statute adds criminal penalties specifically for consumption near schools. Neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi have moved toward more lenient enforcement.
How the law works
Anyone caught smoking marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school campus faces potential jail time. The statute does not distinguish between medical marijuana patients and recreational users, which could create legal problems for Louisiana's roughly 10,000 registered medical cannabis patients.
Policy experts have questioned whether the 2,000-foot restriction can be enforced. "That's a significant radius in urban areas," said Rachel Gillette, a cannabis policy attorney not involved in the legislation. "In cities like New Orleans or Baton Rouge, you could be multiple blocks away from a campus and still fall within this zone."
It is also unclear how police will measure precise distances, or whether the state will have to post signs telling the public where the restricted zones are.
Industry response
Louisiana's medical marijuana operators have said little about the new law, though some industry observers note it could complicate patient access in college towns. The state's medical program runs through a limited number of licensed pharmacies and has struggled with patient enrollment compared to other medical marijuana states.
"This sends a mixed message," said one dispensary operator who requested anonymity. "We're telling patients marijuana is medicine, but then criminalizing its use near schools more harshly than we do alcohol."
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has not taken a public position on the legislation.
What happens next
The law takes effect immediately, though implementation details remain unclear. State law enforcement agencies have not issued guidance on how officers should measure the 2,000-foot boundaries or what signage might be required.
Separately, Louisiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would expand the state's medical marijuana program to cover additional qualifying conditions. That measure has bipartisan support and is expected to come up for a vote next month.
The governor's office did not respond to questions about whether the campus restrictions apply to medical marijuana patients with valid prescriptions.
This article is based on original reporting by ganjapreneur.com.
