According a recent Public Policy Poll, support for marijuana law reform continues to grow in Louisiana.

The survey done last week of a sampling of registered voters here found that 78 percent oppose sentences of longer than 6 months for pot possession — up from 59 percent last year.

It's really time to recognize that the voters of Louisiana are not interested in locking people up for possessing marijuana

"It's really time to recognize that the voters of Louisiana are not interested in locking people up for possessing marijuana," says Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Marjorie Esman.

According to the results, 71 percent oppose life sentences for marijuana possession, up from 65 percent last year. Esman says two-thirds of those surveyed also acknowledged they knew someone who has been in possession of marijuana.

"And I suspect the numbers are actually higher...because there are people who don't want to admit it, and also people who don't know that they know someone," said Esman.

The survey also shows that 68 percent of people support letting certain seriously ill patients use medical marijuana with a doctor's prescription — up 3 percent from last year.

Esman says she believes the numbers are rising because people are starting to realize Louisiana is out of sync with the rest of the country on this issue.

"Also because there was a medical marijuana bill this last legislative session," Esman noted. "It didn't pass, but people are talking about it now."

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