Indiana Could Decriminalize Cannabis in 2020

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap]n Indiana senator filed legislation that could decriminalize cannabis in the state.

According to NWI Times, State Sen. Karen Tallian filed legislation on Dec. 16 to decriminalize an ounce of cannabis or less in Indiana, making it a taxable infraction only. If this becomes law, cannabis possession would become a misdemeanor with no jail time, and for a first offense, those found in possession of cannabis would pay a fine of up to $1,000.

The idea is to catch up to other states with a more reasonable policy and stop spending so much taxpayer money on jail time for those who are only in prison because of cannabis possession. “We all know the governor does not want to legalize marijuana, but there is no longer any justification for arresting people for possession,” Tallian said. “I am hopeful that decriminalization is something the whole Legislature can finally get behind this year.”

In addition to cannabis decriminalization, Tallian would also like for lawmakers to establish a Cannabis Compliance Commission which would control the legal production of industrial hemp and CBD in the state. “Indiana businesses require a license to grow hemp and process it into oil, but there’s no one in charge,” Tallian said. “CBD products should be labeled, but there is no one doing the testing for ingredients and safety. This is a consumer protection issue that Indiana must address, and my bill will do just that with the commission it creates.”

The state of Indiana has come a long way since legalization began rolling through the U.S. In 2018, the state made headlines when its local police force raided a grocery store because it was carrying CBD products. In a recent interview with Gov. Eric Holcomb, he stated that he isn’t ready to legalize cannabis, but that he is “sympathetic” from a medical cannabis perspective.

Officials in Indiana have finally agreed to dismiss some of their recent CBD raids and there is at least some solid support behind medical CBD oil. If Indiana decriminalizes, things will look starkly different in the mainly conservative state.