DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 700 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Bagley
Abstract: Provides relative to penalties for possession of certain amounts of marijuana for a person
under the age of 18.
Proposed law provides that a person under the age of 18 who possesses marijuana shall be punished
as follows:
(1)(a)On a first conviction, wherein the person possesses 14 grams or less, the person shall
be placed on probation or any other dispositional alternative, or imprisoned for not
more than 15 days.
(b)On a first conviction, wherein the person possesses more than 14 grams, the person
shall be placed on probation or any other dispositional alternative, or imprisoned for
not more than six months.
(2)On a second conviction, the person shall be placed on probation or any other dispositional
alternative, or imprisoned for not more than six months.
(3)On a third conviction, the person shall be placed on probation or any other dispositional
alternative, or sentenced to imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not more than two
years.
(4)On a fourth or subsequent conviction, the person shall be placed on probation or any other
dispositional alternative, or sentenced to imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not
more than four years.
Proposed law further provides that any person under 18 years of age who is a patient of the state-
sponsored medical marijuana program and possesses medical marijuana in a form permissible under
present law (R.S. 40:1046) shall not be subject to proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 40:966.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal
Justice to the original bill: 1. Make technical corrections.
2. Exempt persons under 18 years of age who are patients of the state-sponsored medical
marijuana program and possess medical marijuana in a form permissible under present
law from proposed law.