Democrats in Indiana – and a few Republicans – have tried for years to legalize marijuana however have by no means succeeded.
INDIANAPOLIS — Jeff Staker has by no means backed down from a combat.
For the previous a number of years, the U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Operations Desert Protect and Desert Storm has been on the entrance traces of the combat to legalize marijuana for medical use in Indiana.
“Marines are all the time despatched in there to get the job carried out when punches must be thrown,” the 56-year-old grandfather mentioned. “I wish to assist veterans and sufferers and residents have this medication as a helpful different to no matter illnesses they could have.”
For Staker, that was was persistent again ache from bulging discs attributable to his navy service. For years, he took oxycontin, however the dosage stored growing to manage his ache.
“I used to be working the danger of accidently overdosing,” Staker mentioned, explaining he finally turned to a California physician who legally prescribed hashish to deal with his ache.
That’s when he began Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis.
“Persistent ache is among the apparent issues our veterans are turning to, in addition to veterans who’re affected by PTSD and different illnesses that they’re discovering advantages from hashish,” Staker mentioned.
Democrats in Indiana and a few Republicans have tried to legalize marijuana through the years however have by no means succeeded.
Governor Eric Holcomb has come out in opposition to legalizing it for leisure use and mentioned extra analysis must be carried out earlier than contemplating legalizing it for medicinal use.
Indiana does permit for the sale of CBD merchandise and lets farmers develop and course of hemp commercially.
“I feel we’re taking steps in the appropriate route,” Staker added.
Proper now, although, Indiana stays certainly one of 14 states with out medical hashish legal guidelines. Staker hopes that may change within the subsequent legislative session.
“I’m bored with listening to Indiana’s going to be the final one,” mentioned Staker. “Hopefully that received’t be the case. ‘Til the battle’s over, we’ll be within the combat till the tip.”
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