Medical marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Louisiana as Senate Bill 143 moves out of committee this morning and heads to the Senate floor. Many people who feel the drug would cure their various ailments spoke in favor of the bill. Pete Adams, Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, does not support the measure…:
CUT 13 (09) “diseases”
The legislation moved forward without objection.

New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests. Badon says House Bill 149 in no way legalizes marijuana for either medical or recreational use. He says the bill only brings fairness to sentencing for simple marijuana possession…:
CUT 3 (09) “subsequent convictions”
He says the DA’s Association is not opposed to the bill.

The full Senate approves a bill that’s designed to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation would provide each TOPS recipient with a set amount and it will not automatically go up with the cost of tuition. He says this is about ensuring the future of the program for our kids…:
CUT 10 (04) “be able to afford it”
Governor Bobby Jindal has already said he opposes the measure. The bill now heads to the House for further debate.

The House Education Committee approves legislation that requires sex education to be taught in all schools in Orleans Parish. Under current law, sex ed may be offered in Louisiana public schools. But New Orleans councilwoman LaToya Cantrell, a supporter, says comprehensive sex education needs to be mandatory…:
CUT 9 (09) “new cases”
The bill now heads to the full house for more debate.