INDIANAPOLIS – A number of Indiana lawmakers are on the brink of introduce proposals on marijuana this session.
Marijuana legalization has been mentioned for years amongst some lawmakers, however earlier proposals haven’t made a lot progress.
“We’re nonetheless within the struggle, combating for a safer method to heal,” stated Jeff Staker of Hoosier Veterans for Medical Hashish.
Staker has been advocating for medical marijuana within the Hoosier State since forming his group 5 years in the past.
“Each day I run into veterans which can be thanking me for what we’re doing,” he stated.
Beforehand, marijuana payments haven’t acquired hearings on the Statehouse. However Staker stated he’s just lately seen extra curiosity concerning the difficulty from lawmakers on each side of the aisle.
Gov. Eric Holcomb told our sister station WANE 15 earlier this week he’s not able to legalize marijuana, however he helps Indiana universities researching medical marijuana.
“It’s good to see him transferring in the fitting path, however I nonetheless suppose it’s approach too sluggish,” stated State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour).
Lucas is amongst a handful of Republicans on the Statehouse who’ve supported marijuana legalization. He plans to introduce laws once more this session that will allow medical marijuana.
“We have now to be politically lifelike about this as properly,” Lucas stated. “I don’t see us leaping into grownup use proper off the bat. However medical is one thing that we should always have carried out years in the past … It really works, it’s secure.”
Nonetheless, Indiana Democrats want to see the legislature go further. State Sen. Rodney Pol, Jr. (D-Chesterton), is engaged on a invoice to control leisure use.
“Let’s not idiot ourselves, hashish has all the time been in all of those states, however there’s simply been a bootleg marketplace for it,” Pol stated.
It’s too early to inform precisely how far any proposals may go within the legislature this session.
In an interview Friday, Home Majority Chief Matt Lehman (R-Berne) stopped in need of supporting legalization however tells me he can be supportive of measures to look at medical marijuana.
“We’ve acquired to proceed to maneuver ahead and do what’s proper for Hoosiers,” stated Lehman, who proposed a number of years in the past that the legislature examine medical marijuana. “And I believe as a result of we’re seeing extra proof that medically there could be some advantages, I do suppose it’s price having a look on the medical aspect.”
