Indiana House Republicans on Monday voted down a proposal to reclassify cannabis in the state 21 Alive News reports. The measure, introduced by state Rep. Kyle Miller (D) would have removed cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug under state law.
“Throughout the country, legislative bodies are having conversations about the economic and health benefits legalizing marijuana can have. I’m disappointed that Indiana Republicans are so willing to be left behind as other states reap the benefits while we won’t even kick off the conversation be striking it as a Schedule 1 drug.” — Miller to 21 Alive News
Miller added that the proposal “was an opportunity to start the conversation about the possibility of legalizing marijuana in our state. House Republicans have signaled they aren’t interested in bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to Indiana.”
“If they don’t want to have this discussion, I think they owe it to Hoosiers to explain why they don’t want to grow our economy, like 24 states have done using marijuana,” Miller told 21 Alive News. “They also own an explanation to chronically ill Hoosiers who could benefit from a medicinal marijuana program, which 38 states in the country have, why they are so inclined to limit their access to drugs that could alleviate some of their suffering.”
A Republican-backed bill to legalize cannabis for adult use in the state was introduced this month. A poll published last November found that 70% of Indiana voters – a supermajority – back the reforms.
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