CHANGING ATTITUDES?- The effort to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Louisiana, which got further than ever before this year after an unexpected bipartisan push, has failed in the Legislature. A bill to tax the sale of marijuana died on a 47-48 vote Tuesday, well short of the 70 votes needed. After that bill failed, a vote on a bill to legalize the drug for recreational use was tabled. The debate also revealed shifting attitudes about legalization among Republicans and opponents of the idea. Governor Edwards shared his thoughts on the issue.
"And one of the things that I've always said is that before we do it here, we need to make sure we study and learn all the lessons to be learned from all the states that have legalized marijuana." Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana
"I've come to believe that it is going to happen in Louisiana eventually," Edwards said. "And one of the things that I've always said is that before we do it here, we need to make sure we study and learn all the lessons to be learned from all the states that have legalized marijuana."
Governor Edwards stressed that he isn’t yet endorsing legalization as he declined to take a position on pending legislation in the House.
