Indiana's Medical Marijuana Proposals Stall At Statehouse

Friday, March 1, 2019 at 7:14 AM

By Mike Perleberg, Benjamin Yount and Peter Cheng, 24/7 News Source @mikedup8

Several marijuana-related bills failed to pass in either the House or Senate before this week's deadline.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - It doesn't look like Indiana will get a medical marijuana program this year.

Thirteen plans that would have allowed for medical marijuana, or other uses for marijuana, all missed their deadlines at the statehouse this week. That means the plans are essentially dead for this legislative session.

Governor Eric Holcomb told reporters during a legislative halfway-point press conference Wednesday that he doesn't support medical marijuana because it's still illegal under federal law.

"If the law changed we would look at all the positive or adverse impacts it might have on our population, but I'm not convinced that other states have made a wise decision," Holcomb said.

Medical marijuana has been legalized in Illinois and Ohio. Michigan voters approved legalization of recreational use last year.

State Representative Jim Lucas (R-Seymour), who is one of Indiana's biggest legal marijuana supporters, said it is frustrating to see the plans die because people in the state deserve a debate on the issue.

Indiana Senate Democrats had named medical marijuana legalization as one of their legislative priorities this year. Democratic State Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Portage) had submitted three marijuana-related bills this session.

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