INDIANAPOLIS — At least two legislative bills will be introduced in support of legalizing medical marijuana to treat Hoosier patients, two legislators told a gathering of 100 people at a town hall on Saturday.
“These are ordinary Hoosiers who are in a lot of pain and suffering who want the opportunity to try something that is less toxic than what they’re on, not addictive like what they’re on and not be considered a criminal in the eyes of Indiana law,” said Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie.
Errington’s bill will likely be similar to one she introduced in the 2017 session to allow patients to use medical cannabis under certain circumstances with rules developed by the Indiana Department of Health. Her House Bill 1356 did not pass from committee.In addition, Rep Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, has also said he plans to introduce a bill although he is still researching the issue.
The 2018 legislature is a short session and won’t address the state budget. Advocates acknowledge that expanding marijuana laws is an uphill battle.
However, they also point to the passage of a bill allowing people with epilepsy to use cannabidiol, which can counteract pain and seizures. In Indiana, cannabidiol must not contain more than .03 percent THC, an active ingredient in getting a “high.” Patients must also register with the State Department of Health.
Saturday’s town hall, held at the Indiana State Library, was an attempt to educate Hoosiers about medical marijuana, said one of the organizers, David Phipps. Also present were representatives of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis.
Two days earlier and less than two blocks away, the Governor’s Commission to Combat Drug Abuse heard of the negative impact of decriminalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington.
Also, traffic deaths related to marijuana have risen sharply in Colorado, he said.
Powell also spoke against efforts to expand marijuana laws in Indiana including medical marijuana.
“We believe it is not medicine, never has been any more than spice, any more than alcohol is medicine,” he told the commission. “In the old days they prescribed cocaine to help alcoholism and that didn’t work too well either.”
But Phipps said, “We cannot be relying prosecutors to be educating our legislators on the health issues…We should probably rely on people in the medical profession.”
credit:heraldbulletin.com
