Hoosier marijuana reform study bill hearing Tuesday, February 15

Published: February 12, 2011

S.B. 192, one of the more exciting marijuana policy bills introduced in any state legislature, will require the criminal law and sentencing policy study committee to evaluate Indiana’s marijuana laws, and discuss alternatives. It will receive a Senate Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters hearing Tuesday, February 15, at 8:00 a.m. in the Senate Chamber. Please come to the hearing, dressed in professional clothing.

Please take action and e-mail your senators, asking them to co-author and support S.B. 192. Hoosier legislators need to hear your voices, as this is new, and they need examples of why marijuana laws need revision.

The policy committee would study and make recommendations over the summer on what the appropriate penalties (if any) should be for marijuana possession, whether and how to implement a medical marijuana program, and whether marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol.

In unfortunate news, S.B. 86 passed the Senate 48-1. It will require unemployment benefit seekers to declare upon penalty of perjury (up to three years of prison) that they will not use marijuana. It will be heard next in the House, so please e-mail your representatives and ask them to oppose it.

Please pass this on so that even more Hoosiers can participate in reform.