Latest Weather Blog
Possessing marijuana on school campuses now carries harsher penalties
Related Story
BATON ROUGE — With school in full swing and football season kicking off, Gov. Jeff Landry reminded students that the laws regarding marijuana on and around school campuses now carry harsher penalties.
The crackdown on marijuana policy comes from Act 305, which was passed in the 2026 regular legislative session and went into effect at the beginning of August.
The law states that possessing and smoking marijuana, of any quantity, on campus property or within 2,000 feet of a campus can be charged with up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
"The idea that you've got to break the law to enjoy yourself at an LSU football game, or at really any sort of college or secondary college event, you know that's just not the case. Let's create atmospheres where families and kids, and grandparents can go have a good time," State Representative Gabe Firment said.
Some students on LSU's campus tell WBRZ they strongly support the tougher penalties, especially during gamedays.
"There's people that are younger than their 20s coming on campus, and just being around drugs this young, it's so dangerous, so I'm glad to see some stricter penalties for that," LSU student Blake Brignac said.
"For gamedays, we can all get fined, we can get certain like, places on campus shutdown for marijuana use, and half the time, it doesn't even be students and LSU is an open campus. So anybody can come in here, and usually it is a lot of time the people who are walking into campus and not necessarily the students itself, but we're the ones who are being effected by it," LSU student Chloe Perkins said.
But some feel the penalties for having marijuana on a college campus in general are too harsh.
"The fact that we are adults on a college campus, and there are different laws, like from different states, you know, like New Jersey, and up north that have decriminalized marijuana completely," LSU student Talise Beverly said.
Before the bill's passing, possessing 14 grams or less only carried a fine of up to $100.
The bill also includes students or guests who have medical marijuana prescriptions; smoking or vaping is still not allowed, and the user will still face the same legal action, according to the graphic shared by Landry.
The bill also defines these as felony charges, as the new penalty allows for hard labor.
News
