Proposals filed with state legislature to abolish death penalty, cultivate industrial hemp

With the start of the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature looming, two bills were recently proposed that will affect capital punishment and the possible cultivation of industrial hemp.
Senator Dan Claitor (R-Baton Rouge) introduced Senate Bill 112 which would abolish the death penalty as a possible sentence in the state in cases on or after January 1, 2020.
If the bill is passed by the legislature and ultimately signed by Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana voters would have to then ratify the measure at the election polls during the November 19 runoff election.
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty released a statement in which the organization said, “The leadership of conservative state legislators wanting to end the death penalty, like Sen. Claitor, reflects the trend we are seeing across the country. Louisiana is the latest sign that the death penalty is on its way out and that conservatives are leading the way.”
Meanwhile, in the lower chamber, Representative Clay Schexnayder introduced legislation to allow agricultural producers to produce industrial hemp.
In a statement, Representative Schexnayder said, ““Industrial hemp is an alternative specialty high value crop with the potential to create new industries and enhance economic development for Louisiana. The importance of agriculture in Louisiana increases the need to provide both opportunities to introduce first time producers to agriculture and allow existing producers the opportunity to diversify their farming interests for economic stability options.”