The State of Louisiana certainly knows how to have fun. Each year, approximately 50 million visitors travel to Louisiana to enjoy our beautiful cities and fun festivals. With so many out-of-state visitors and so many states with legalized recreational marijuana, the question is bound to arise regarding whether it’s legal to bring marijuana to Louisiana from other states. The simple answer to the question is no. Here’s why.
Driving Across State Lines with Marijuana is Illegal
Many states across the U.S. have legalized recreational marijuana over the past ten years. States where recreational marijuana is legal to use include:
- Washington
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Maine
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Vermont
If you purchase recreational marijuana in any of these states, you can legally transport it within the state. Once you exit the state where marijuana is legal, however, and enter a state where it is not, you’re breaking the law. Even with proof of purchase, if you’re caught transporting marijuana in a state where it’s not legalized, you can face steep fines and possible incarceration.
Commercial Airlines Do Not Allow Marijuana
Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, and because airports are technically under the jurisdiction of the federal government, traveling with marijuana is not advised. If you attempt to travel with marijuana via airplane across state lines, be prepared for the consequences that might follow. Penalties for attempting to take marijuana on a plane include:
- Questioning by the DEA
- Fines
- Probation
- Possible Incarceration
The penalties you face for traveling with marijuana depend heavily on how much marijuana you’re carrying and whether you’re transporting it with the intention of distribution.
Only Medicinal Marijuana is Legal in Louisiana
Even if you’re able to get marijuana across state lines without being caught, it’s still illegal to use recreational marijuana in Louisiana. The only type of marijuana that is legal in Louisiana is medicinal marijuana. Furthermore, to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, you must meet specific guidelines, receive a prescription from an approved doctor, and purchase it from an approved pharmacy. Approved medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- PTSD
- HIV/AIDS
- …and more
If you’re caught using marijuana without the appropriate medical documentation, you can face fines and incarceration. The bottom line is, marijuana must be used according to the laws of the state you’re in.
Experienced Drug Offense Attorneys in Louisiana
If you’ve been charged with possession of marijuana in the state of Louisiana as a resident or a visitor, it’s important to find a trusted attorney who is experienced with drug offenses as soon as possible. In the state of Louisiana, that attorney is Eric G. Johnson of the John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm.
Attorney Eric Johnson has more than 23 years of experience defending thousands of drug cases in Louisiana. Our attorneys are members of the Louisiana Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. To schedule your free consultation, call our office at 318-377-1555 or contact us online. We look forward to talking with you today!