Indiana Republican Senators rejected a second attempt by the state to legalize cannabis.
The Senate rejected many Democratic proposals, including that of Sen. Rodney Pol, D, to establish a regulated market for adult-use marijuana.
Pol emphasized that Indiana “loses out” on tax revenues from marijuana sales to other states, such as Illinois or Michigan who have already legalized the drug. Indianans were patronizing these licensed business in those neighboring states.
The Indiana governor said that it was “frustrating,” to watch the state “miss out on an opportunity” to help those with chronic pain, cancer, PTSD or other illnesses that require cannabis to relieve them, rather than pharmaceuticals.
“There are hundreds of people standing in the hall who are worried about how much money we spend,” said he. It is easy to transform an illicit marketplace that funds more crime into a taxed and regulated one that benefits us.
This is an inevitable conversation, but we keep avoiding it.
The amendment—which would achieve what Rodney proposed in a standalone legalization bill he filed in January—was defeated in a voice vote.
Some have predicted that the marijuana reform tide could shift in 2025, despite the history of the GOP-controlled Legislature. A part of this enthusiasm is due to the fact that Governor. Mike Braun, a Republican member of Congress from Wisconsin, said it was “probably about time” that medical cannabis be made available.
Indiana’s Senate Leader said this month decriminalizing smaller amounts of marijuana was a smart move in his opinion, but he still remains “unconvinced.” He is not convinced that the legalization of all cannabis would benefit Indiana.
Lawmakers are considering a number of hemp- and cannabis-related bills this session, including a “craft hemp flower products” bill that would set an age limit for products and establish rules around licensing, testing, packaging and advertising.
Another piece of legislation would ban all marijuana advertising within state lines. Initially that bill would have prohibited only billboard advertising of marijuana, but the proposal was expanded under an amendment adopted in committee.
Top Republicans in the legislature, however, have openly opposed marijuana reform.
House Speaker Todd Huston has raised doubts over the potential medical benefit of marijuana. He called the drug “a deterrent against mental health.” Others have said that the lawmakers who support this reform are only interested in boosting state revenues.
In January, meanwhile, GOP lawmakers rejected a Democratic-led attempt to legalize marijuana in the state.
Rep. Kyle Miller, a Democratic Representative from California, sought to have cannabis removed from the State’s controlled substance list through an amendment. The House, after a short discussion and a debate on the issue, ruled that the amendment was out of place.
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Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.