INDIANAPOLIS—Although almost 90 percent of Hoosiers support legalizing medicinal marijuana, Republican leaders have signaled that might not happen next session.
“With regard to medical marijuana, I really have, it’s no secret that I’m not for this,” Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said during the 2024 Dentons Legislative Conference earlier this month. ”I don’t have people coming to me with really compelling medical cases as to why it’s so beneficial.”
Bray’s counterpart in the Indiana House, Speaker Todd Huston, echoed similar sentiments during the conference.
”I will push back on ‘we’re behind’, because I’m not sure what we’re behind on,” Huston said. “If we’re behind on having fewer people use an addictive substance, I don’t know, I’m okay with that.”
Bray went on to say he hoped lawmakers would shift their focus next session from marijuana to Delta-8—a psychoactive substance found in hemp.
”Is that a legal product? Is that something that should be legal? If it is, it certainly, I think, I think anyone would argue that it needs to be regulated in some way, shape, or form,” Bray said.
”There is no current age requirement on hemp use,” Alicia Tucker, Treasurer of the Indiana branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said.
According to Tucker, the Midwest Hemp Council is pushing for legislation that would create a regulatory framework for the hemp industry in Indiana.
”If we could get a hearing on the hemp bill…I think that that bill is going to really provide the framework for the medical marijuana bills and the recreational bills,” Tucker said.
In a statement, the Safe and Regulated Indiana Coalition said:
“As we shared with our recent survey, 7 of 10 Hoosier voters agree that it’s time legalize marijuana for those age twenty-one and over in a safe and regulated manner, similar to alcohol. Our growing coalition is looking forward to working with the Indiana General Assembly this legislative session to be sure Hoosier voices are heard.”
-Joe Elsener, Safe and Regulated Coalition
In response to her Republican colleagues’ comments, Indiana Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder said her caucus will still push for reasonable, regulated access to medical marijuana next session.
“If we work together in a bipartisan way, we can create a well-regulated market for Hoosiers who desperately want access,” Yoder said.
