Indiana Republican State Rep. Jim Lucas is getting ready to push for legalizing medical cannabis in the state. He said he has a bill ready, and it would allow people with serious medical conditions to receive medical cannabis and allow medical cannabis to be cultivated, tested, processed and more.

“It polls higher than any other issue,” Lucas said. “We’ve seen 38 other states step up and do the right thing for their citizens. We know it saves lives. We know it offers a better quality of life.”

Lucas’ introduced a similar bill during the last session. Democrats in Indiana are pushing to fully legalize cannabis, but they may have trouble getting enough Republicans on board with that plan. Legalizing medical cannabis may be an easier thing to get done in the near future.

Violet Cavendish, communications manager for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Cannabis News Box that she is hopeful that Indiana will be able to change its cannabis laws next year. She said when it comes to medical cannabis, Indiana residents support it in large numbers.

“Polls consistently show the vast majority of Americans support allowing seriously ill patients to use cannabis for medical purposes with their doctors’ approval, and Indiana residents are certainly no exception,” Cavendish said. “A 2018 Hoosier Survey poll found that 81% of Indiana residents support medical cannabis legalization.”

Cavendish said states like Illinois legalizing cannabis had definitely had an effect on other Midwestern states. She said cannabis policy reform is “sweeping the Midwest.”

“Both Indiana’s neighbor to the north, Michigan, and its neighbor to the west, Illinois, have legalized cannabis for adults’ use. And, Ohio, its eastern neighbor, has a comprehensive medical cannabis program,” Cavendish said. “As more and more states move forward, it’s only a matter of time before Indiana improves its laws.”

Indiana is now one of only 14 states that haven’t legalized medical cannabis. Cavendish said that there are also many other policies that Indiana has in regards to cannabis that need to be changed.

“Under current law, possession of even a single joint is punishable by up to a year of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,” she said. “Given
the benefits cannabis policy reform has, including the potential to improve seriously ill patients’ health and well-being with medical cannabis, it is imperative that the state takes action on reforming their cannabis laws.”