The Super Bowl followed by Mardi Gras – New Orleans is definitely the city of the moment – but will marijuana be in the mix?
They have the Super Bowl followed by the weeks long celebration of Mardi Gras. Folks are everywhere with open alcohol containers and you might catch a whiff of a green plant. As the party city of the country, what about New Orleans and marijuana? The commitment to imbibe is so strong, it took the threat of losing federal highways funds before they raised the minimum drinking age to 21. Securing the position of the last state to pass the legalization. While cannabis will definitely be at both marquee events this month, the city and state have a complicated with the plant.
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In the early 20th century, New Orleans was at the forefront of marijuana prohibition in the United States. The city’s first ordinance banning marijuana was enacted in 1923, following a wave of public concern over its perceived dangers. This period, often referred to as the “marijuana menace,” was marked by police raids and arrests of users and sellers, with those caught being dubbed “muggleheads” by the press and law enforcement24. The state of Louisiana soon followed with its own prohibition laws, solidifying marijuana’s illegal status.
Fast-forward to 2016, when New Orleans took a significant step towards decriminalizing marijuana possession. Ordinance 31,148, signed into law by Mayor Mitch Landrieu, allowed for the issuance of summonses instead of arrests for marijuana possession, reducing penalties to modest fines1. This move was part of a broader trend across the U.S. to reevaluate marijuana laws, reflecting changing public attitudes towards the drug.
Currently, the only legal way to purchase and consume marijuana in New Orleans is through the state’s medical marijuana program. Patients must obtain a recommendation from a licensed healthcare provider to access cannabis products from approved dispensaries3. Louisiana also offers reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana patients, allowing them to purchase cannabis while visiting the city
