Indiana Medical Marijuana Legalization Planned for Upcoming Session

This summer, a study commission will look at the effects, benefits and impacts of legalizing medical marijuana in Indiana. Legislation, however, is already planned for the upcoming legislative session. Representative Jim Lucas is sponsoring that legislation.

One potential patient, Sylvia Kemp, doesn’t  understand why Indiana is so hesitant to legalize medical marijuana, according to The Indy Channel News. She has multiple sclerosis and several other health conditions that require her to take 23 pills daily. Her knowledge of the benefits of medical marijuana came during a visit to Colorado.

Lucas said, “Now with Oklahoma being the 30th state of the 29 states that have adopted medical cannabis. They’ve seen on an average 25 percent decrease in opioid deaths. Some states have seen a 50 percent decrease. Indiana having 100 opioid deaths per month. That is literally hundreds of lives we can save in the first year.”

Kemp said, “Why do I need to be in pain because they don’t understand the benefits? It needs to happen so people can live without pain. With many diseases, not just mine. Although mine is pretty bad, so I would be very grateful.”

Some in the state think that people using marijuana just want to get high and the plant doesn’t  have any medicinal value.

David Phipps of NORML said, “That’s an insult to each and every Hoosier patient that so desperately needs this. That’s an insult to the 30 states that have legalized this medication plus Washington, D.C. Those leaders are implementing this for a reason. Let’s not insult those leaders. Let’s assume they know something that our leaders don’t know.”

Hearing dates for the upcoming special summer study committee have not been released.