After hours of debate and hearing testimony from experts, state lawmakers taking part in a study committee looking into the possibility of legalizing pot in Indiana came away with no recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.
In the six-hour session, they had testimony about the possibility of decriminalization of possession of the drug along with potential health and economic benefits from the products.
Naysayers of legalizing pot in some capacity in Indiana hit hard on the opinion that if pot were to be legalized it would have negative effects on the state’s workforce, especially if pot is still illegal on the federal level.
Supporters of legalizing pot pushed what they called a state-regulated marijuana market, which they say would focus mostly on access to medical marijuana for people who use pot to deal with various ailments.
A few medical experts said in response that even with that regulation, it would still increase the likelihood that teenagers could get their hands on pot and would have negative impacts on employment. They say it will make it hard for companies to find workers since many companies enact drug testing of employees.
Supporters of legal pot retorted again that that line of thinking doesn’t make sense since alcohol and tobacco use have been normalized and the consequences of the use of those products is already being passed on to kids.
Furthermore, supporters also pushed the economic benefits of legalizing pot through taxing it.
In the end, the committee did not vote on any recommendations to be sent to lawmakers ahead of the 2024 legislative session.
Indiana is one of 12 states in the country that have still not legalized marijuana in some capacity for medicinal or recreational purposes.
5 comments
Legalize federally now. What’s legal to possess and consume in nearly half of The United States should not make you a criminal in states still being governed by woefully ignorant prohibitionist politicians.
Cannabis consumers in all states deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
It’s time for us, the majority of The People to take back control of our national cannabis policy. By voting OUT of office any and all politicians who very publicly and vocally admit to having an anti-cannabis, prohibitionist agenda! Time to vote’em all OUT of office. Period. Plain and simple.
Politicians who continue to demonize Cannabis, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Cannabis possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through cannabis home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose cannabis, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Cannabis Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!
Legalizing pot will never happen in Indiana. We have always been behind the rest of states with everything. The opponents to it only have one good point…its senseless as long as feds continue to sleep on it. Private companies and federal agencies would still consider it illegal, regardless of state law. There are many VA providers who want it for patients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and especially for pain management. What a shame the government is so controlling over what people need to help them!
Legalize it and use the money for homeless people or hungry. L.G
If you legalize it you will only see more homeless and hungry people unwilling to work…and a lot more people incarcerated for their associated crimes.
Possession is currently a Class C Misdemeanor, basically a traffic ticket…people are in jail for all the felonies they commit in association with possession and use.
But I suppose you can’t see this through your purple haze.
Hey Brian, until the penalties for misusing any intoxicating substance fit the impact you have on others I will not support the grabbing a toboggan and heading for the slippery slope; the responsibility for their actions needs to fit the impact they have on the lives of others once they depart their abode.
How about this: for any use of an uncontrolled substance that inhibits your abilities while driving you get a minimum 7 years in prison (1st offense). For any use of an uncontrolled substance that inhibits your ability to drive that causes injury or death to another you get the death penalty…no appeal and immediate execution. Same penalty for all classes of intoxicants.
Once those types of laws are in place and enforced go ahead and legalize everything and let the chaff fall where it may.
I’m guessing you’d see a lot of neighborhood bars open up much like in Germany…a country of drinkers that doesn’t have much of a drunk driving problem.
And just stop trying to save the stoners who overdose, they have chosen their path to the grave.