GOP Gov. Landry Declines Biden’s ‘No-Consequences-For-Criminals Agenda’ As He Vetoes Cannabis Pardons Bill
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) vetoed legislation last week that would provide pardons for individuals previously convicted of first-time marijuana possession offenses.
Under House Bill 391, the governor would have been able to provide pardons to eligible individuals without a prior recommendation by the state’s Board of Pardons. The measure was approved by the state House in a 63-30 vote, and by the Senate in a 31 to 7 vote.
The bill “seeks to enact a first-of-its-kind express lane for pardons, bypassing review and recommendation from the Board of Pardons and all normal procedures,” the Governor wrote in his veto letter. “As written, House Bill 391 explicitly violates the Louisiana Constitution, Article IV, Section 5(E)(l), which states that a favorable recommendation of the Board of Pardons is required before a Governor may even consider exercising his authority to pardon or commute a criminal conviction or sentence. Moreover, …