Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, is hoping his latest push to relax some of the state’s marijuana laws will not go up in smoke.
He plans to introduce two bills in the next legislative session that would legalize medical marijuana across Indiana and reduce penalties for possessing less than one ounce of the drug to the level of a “seat belt violation.”
Lucas authored two similar bills during the 2019 legislative session, but both failed to make it out of committee. The next legislative session starts Jan. 6.
“I’m introducing medical cannabis legislation and also another bill that takes possession of less than an ounce and/or paraphernalia down to a (Class) D infraction, which is basically a $25 fine,” Lucas said.
“Or a warning, if the cop is cool,” the legislator added later in the interview, chuckling.
Lucas’ latest push to roll back some of Indiana’s marijuana laws comes as two neighboring states — Illinois and Michigan — are beginning to regulate and allow the sale of marijuana for recreational use. On Sunday, legal sales of recreational marijuana started in Michigan. Illinois is expected to start recreational sales on Jan. 1. Approximately one out of every six Indiana counties, or 15 out of 92 counties, border Illinois or Michigan.
Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. An additional 15 states have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. A total of 33 states — including Illinois, Michigan and Ohio — have approved medical marijuana programs.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
