Candidates for Indiana Governor Support Cannabis Law Reforms but Have Different Views on Policy

The candidates for Indiana governor have each backed some form of cannabis legalization in the state but have different views on what the industry should look like, the Chicago Tribune reports. The three candidates include Republican U.S. Senator Mike Braun, Democratic candidate and former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater. 

McCormick has indicated she would first establish an Indiana Cannabis Commission which would be tasked with overseeing the industry and creating regulations. She told the Tribune that she is “a firm believer” that Indiana is “losing out on so many tax dollars and lots of jobs.” 

“More importantly,” she added, “we’ve got a lot of Hoosiers that are saying, medically, they want that option.”  

Braun said he is open to legalizing cannabis for medical use but that he would work with law enforcement on the reforms. 

“I think when it comes to medical marijuana there are a lot of groups – veterans and others – that really find beneficial use from it. It’s been cascading across the country. If the legislature takes it up, I’m going to be listening carefully and probably favorably disposed towards medical use of marijuana.” — Braun to the Tribune 

Rainwater said he would back a policy to decriminalize and legalize cannabis broadly and expunge the criminal records of anyone with a non-violent cannabis-related arrest.  

“Any reason given for continuing to criminalize the use of medical or recreational cannabis just doesn’t make sense,” Rainwater told the Tribune. He added that he would support reducing “a lot of the restrictive, monopolistic regulations” on the state’s hemp industry which he said would benefit hemp farmers   

According to FiveThirtyEight polling, Braun leads the race between 3 and 9 points over McCormick while Rainwater garners between 6% and 9% of the vote.