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Indiana Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Defeated

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #771)
Drug War Issues

A bill that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana is dead in the Indiana legislature after a key Senate committee chairman refused to allow a public hearing on it. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Karen Tallian (D-La Porte), says she will be back next year.

The bill, Senate Bill 580, would have decriminalized the possession of up to two ounces of pot, but it was not just a decriminalization bill. It would also have provided protection against per se drugged driving charges, legalized industrial hemp, reduced criminal penalties for other marijuana offenses, required courts to impose suspended and deferred sentences for marijuana possession misdemeanors, and provided a defense for people who delivered up to 10 pounds of pot without consideration.

It was referred to the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law, chaired by Sen. Mike Young (R-Madison County), who said he wasn't ready to take it up.

"It's dead for this year," Young told WISH-TV before adding that he would continue to talk to Sen. Tallian about the bill "so I can work with her over the summer and learn a little bit more about this issue before we hear it."

Tallian said she was getting support for the bill and vowed to keep pushing until she gets a hearing.

"I have a lot of professional people sending me e-mails saying where are you, what can we do to help?" she said. "We will get a hearing on this bill."

But not until next year at the earliest, and that's too bad for Indiana voters. They've indicated they are ready for decriminalization. A recent WISH-TV/Ball State University Hoosier Survey had support for decriminalization at 53%, with only 41% opposed.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous8675309 (not verified)

These so called officials are supposed to follow the wishes of "WE THE PEOPLE" We don't want a freaking babysitter! No wonder this state has gone to HELL! ! STUPID MORON!! We need someone who listens to what the people want!!
Tue, 02/12/2013 - 8:31pm Permalink
Joeben (not verified)

It amazes me that anyone thinks partisan politics is the reason decriminalization bills are killed. Despite pretty solid public opinion polls that at least support mmj, the Democratic led Govt has done nothing but ramp up enforcement and prosecution. Anybody who believes that mainstream Dems support legalization are living under a rock.
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 3:31am Permalink
DLaun (not verified)

"Sen. Mike Young (R-Madison County)" The people in his District need to remember this when it comes to re-election time and SEND HIM PACKING! That should send a CLEAR message to him and those Like Him! The tide is turning and over 50% of America now believes Cannabis should be legal and treated as Alcohol, Politicians are now getting nervous and if we start cleaning house, Those that remain WILL comply because they could be Next to join the unemployed.

Wed, 02/13/2013 - 5:46pm Permalink
kickback (not verified)

That bill seems to be very broad . Maybe that`s why it`s stuck . The Bill needs to be broken down into separate Bills . Some politicians are already about to explode at the realization of Cannabis legalization . Isn`t Axl Rose from Indiana ? What was his position on the issue ? He is probably in Japan . I bet they have some good corn liquor in Indiana .

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:57am Permalink
Scrodinsky (not verified)

Same as it ever was. I bet this guy goes home, slams a nice fifth of vodka, but he has no problems with that. Stubborn old man needs to die or get out of office, he can't just come out and say "No, I've got no plans to hear this. Now excuse me while I go drink myself to death and find a nice teenage girl to bang in my office"

Crooked old republicans like this man need to fall over dead

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:49pm Permalink
Scrodinsky (not verified)

Marshall believes that “federal supremacy is the bedrock of our governmental system,”

Remind me again how alcohol prohibition worked so damn well... 

Decriminalizing would be a step forward, but it really just needs to be legal. It shouldn't be listed as a substance at all by the FDA either, it's just a plant. They can call it a drug all they want, but it's not altered by man! It grows freely from this earth. If that's the case, the FDA should stick oak trees and flowers into the schedule 1 block as well, I mean, they grow naturally from the ground, must be harmful right? The DEA also needs to back off, they have no right interfering with a natural plant.

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:50pm Permalink
LGM (not verified)

It's sad that the governments war on drugs has not been solely on the producers of the drugs that Americans consume. The war has been on the American people themselves. It has been a war that has "failed" drastically, it really is a joke. Drugs are more abundant on the streets today than they were when the so called war started, I know I used to be a pot smoker myself. From my experience I have not seen marijuana destroy peoples live like other drugs such as crystal meth, heroin, crack, booze, and cigarettes, They claim that marijuana is the gateway drug but if you ask around you will find that the first drug that marijuana smokers used was cigarettes, and/or alcohol. Most people I know can do with or without marijuana, but it is a different story when it comes to their ciggs. and their booze. I can't believe that it is classified as a  schedule one drug. Cigarettes and alcohol are way more addicting than marijuana ever will be, this I know as fact not fiction. To me our governments war on marijuana is not a war on marijuana, it is a way of forcing their will on people. People who know the truth that marijuana is not the big boogyman that it is made out to be. Classifying someone that poses marijuana with someone that sells crack, meth, and heroin is not sain thinking.

Tue, 03/19/2013 - 7:52am Permalink

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