NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Students and parents are in the midst of back-to-school season in Louisiana, but this year brings a new law that calls for stricter felony penalties for marijuana use around both K-12 schools and college campuses.
The new law went into effect Aug. 1. One New Orleans college student told Fox 8 it was something worth heeding.
“Possessing weed … it’s not going to look good if I get caught,” the student said. “It would mean I would go to jail.”
The new law makes it a felony to smoke or vape marijuana within a 2,000-foot buffer zone around schools zones statewide, including college campuses and stadiums. Offenders could face a $1,000 fine and a year in prison.
The law applies to marijuana use in public, in dorms, in fraternity/sorority houses, on-campus tailgate parties, school venues/events and other areas within the buffer zone. It even applies to medical marijuana use, regardless of whether the user has a prescription.
The law was authored by State Rep. Gabe Firment (R-Pollock), who says he is concerned about increased marijuana use, especially around LSU’s Baton Rouge campus.
“It’s never OK to commit crimes in front of kids, in front of families.” Firment said. “Let’s make Tiger Stadium safer. Let’s make our high schools and elementary schools safer.”
Dillard University criminologist Ashraf Esmail says he’s concerned about how the law would be enforced, especially for neighbors who live around campuses but do not step foot on school property.
“Are we about school safety or are we about punishment?” Esmail asked. “Are you actively going out to school grounds and looking for people using marijuana? Is this something we are focusing in on?”
The law says only those actively seen using marijuana will be charged, making some incoming college students adjust.
“Just because of your location in a school zone? It doesn’t mean you’re giving it to kids or anything like that,” the New Orleans college student said. “It would be fines, higher fines. I could even go to jail. It won’t look good if I get caught.”
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