Indiana Representatives Begin to Support Medical Marijuana Legalization

Over the weekend, Indiana NORML held a town hall meeting educating the public about medical marijuana. Republican Representative Jim Lucas showed his support at the event. Democratic Representative Sue Errington was also in attendance, showing her support.

Indiana’s Attorney General Curtis Hill will be the biggest hurdle in the state when it comes to passing legislation to allow medical marijuana use, according to FOX 59 News. With the current opioid epidemic and increasing public support, Lucas believes that more Republicans could get on board. The increasing amount of data regarding medical marijuana will also play a positive role, Lucas believes.

Lucas said, “It’s not a Republican or Democrat thing. Liberal or conservative. This is a human rights issue. We’ve all seen the proof that it works. We heard personal testimony from people who have personally benefited from this product and I’m for it 100 percent.”

Representative Errington said, “Up to now it’s mostly been Democratic voices and we’re a minority in the Indiana Statehouse so to have someone come out as strongly as Representative Lucas has, it’s really great to have a partner who wants to work with those of us who have been in the trenches.”

Lucas said, “If ever there was a time, now is it. The planets are aligned. When you look there are 30 some other states that have this. The opioid issue has been declared an epidemic. We are handing out needles to try and stem it. Like I said earlier. People are dying. Families are being torn apart by it and those are prescription drugs.”

Errington said, “I think things are moving in the right direction hopefully fast enough we can have something passed next session.”

Both representatives are working on legislation for the new Legislative session to legalize medical marijuana. They’re also working on a campaign to educate their fellow lawmakers on medical marijuana.

Lucas said, “We have to quit listening to the fear mongering, the ignorance, the people who just don’t know, but for whatever reason they have been scared of this issue for a long, long time. They are afraid to move forward. I’m hoping to help break that bubble and if it takes a conservative Republican to make that happen, I’m happy to be the one.”