17:30 LRN Newscast/Legislative Report

A Senate approved bill that would make sale of any hemp product containing THC illegal statewide has passed the House Criminal Justice Committee with a 7 to 5 vote and moves to the House floor for final legislative passage. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressley says there are dozens of THC products available to buy that can get you high…
Cut 13 (13) “..gets you high.”
Joe Gerrity, CEO of Crescent Canna makes that product and says Senator Pressly’s accusation is inaccurate and misleading.
Cut 14 (11) “..entire country.”
Gerrity says prohibiting the sale of THC in a regulated, licensed, and taxable market will only drive people back to the black market.

One of the bills that sought to restrict what documents and emails can be released involving communication with the governor’s office through a public records request is dead for the legislative session. There is pushback against Governor Landry’s efforts to restrict public access to certain government records. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says he agrees with the governor’s desire to keep certain records out of public view, but it’s hard to find a balance between transparency and keeping government information hidden
Cut 12 (09) “…of the Senate.”
There are still two other bills alive in the legislative session that would limit public access to state government records, but it remains to be seen if they can get approval in the Senate.

Former state senator Bodi White has stepped as Governor Landry’s legislative liaison to the Senate. The Advocate reports White got into a heated argument with one of Landry’s staffers over whether a bill the governor wants passed has adequate funding.