Last verified: April 2026
The Statewide Floor
Signed by then-Governor John Bel Edwards in June 2021 and effective August 1, 2021, House Bill 652 (codified as Act 247 of 2021) amended LRS §40:966(C) so that possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana is punishable by a fine of not more than $100, with no jail time, regardless of prior offenses. This applies statewide.
New Orleans operates below this floor (a $40 minimum and routine treatment as a municipal infraction under §54-507), but the rest of Louisiana — Jefferson Parish, St. Tammany, all the rural parishes — now lives under the $100 cap as well.
The Penalty Schedule
| Quantity | Charge | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| ≤14 g | Misdemeanor | $100 fine, no jail (regardless of priors) |
| 14 g – 2.5 lbs | Misdemeanor (state) | Up to 6 months / $500 |
| 2.5 – 60 lbs | Felony | 2–10 years / up to $30,000 |
| 60 – 2,000 lbs | Felony | 5–30 years / up to $100,000 |
HB 652 + §54-507 + DA Declination — The Three-Layer Stack
- Statewide statutory floor — HB 652 caps the ≤14 g penalty at $100, no jail.
- City ordinance — §54-507 provides cite-and-release for any amount at the municipal level (with $40–$100 fines).
- DA declination — Williams declines state-law referrals from any LE agency.
The combined effect inside Orleans Parish: simple possession is treated like a parking ticket. Outside Orleans Parish, only HB 652 applies — but other DAs prosecute. See parish jurisdiction.
What HB 652 Did NOT Do
- Did not legalize cannabis.
- Did not authorize sale or distribution.
- Did not eliminate paraphernalia charges.
- Did not affect quantities above 14 grams.
- Did not protect medical patients in employment contexts.
- Did not establish out-of-state medical reciprocity.
The Politics
HB 652 was sponsored by Rep. Cedric Glover (D-Shreveport) and signed by the Democratic governor John Bel Edwards. Notable supporters included the Louisiana ACLU and NORML Louisiana. Opposition came from the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association and several DAs' offices.
Gov. Jeff Landry (R), who took office in January 2024, has been *cool but not crusading* on cannabis policy. Decriminalization under HB 652 has not been rolled back. Cannabis Louisiana's full HB 652 page.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org
Related on this site: DA Jason Williams's Declination Polic..., NOPD vs. LA State Police Troop B, New Orleans Code §54-507.