Indiana News

Marijuana Debate Ramping Up Amid Next Legislative Session

(Photo Supplied/Gov. Eric Holcomb)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (NETWORK INDIANA):  Legislative leaders in the Indiana Statehouse said during Organization Day earlier this month that you could see some movement on decriminalizing some sort of marijuana use in Indiana.

House Speaker Todd Huston (R) left things vague on the subject, but rest assured one person whose position has not changed on the subject is Gov. Eric Holcomb (R).

“I haven’t changed my position,” Holcomb said. “I am very supportive of more research. Medical research in terms of the advantages of medicinal marijuana, but it’s still illegal (on the federal level).”

Holcomb added that he doesn’t care if the federal government “looks the other way” when it comes to other states that are decriminalizing the use of pot, whether it be medicinally or recreationally. He added that he didn’t get into the job to pick and choose which laws to enforce.

The other big topic of discussion in this session, as it is with every budget session, is your tax money. With many Hoosier homeowners feeling the ire of their property value reassessments going way up, many want to know what will be done to help alleviate the pain on tax day.

Holcomb responded by reiterating what has already been done to relieve some tax burdens but said they must be tedious in choosing how much more, if anything, to cut.

“We’ve been cutting taxes and we’re going into a budget session where priorities will be determined,” said Holcomb. “We’ve recently eliminated some taxes and we’ve been reducing taxes in terms of income, in terms of utility receipts tax. So, when you reduce those taxes it has an impact on your revenue.”

He is looking forward to the latest state economic forecast set to be released in mid-December. Holcomb said that would give he and lawmakers a better idea on what to push for without going overboard on stifling state revenues.

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8 comments

Slacker06 November 28, 2022 at 9:14 am

IT seems very suspicious when the property assessments go way up only to find the real estate market going way down. Somewhere there is fraud in the way the assessments are done. Will the assessments go down as fast as they went up? We’re supposed to have a market based system Yet my assessment has gone up every year. However we have not sold or listed our property. So no one really knows the market value unless or until it is SOLD. Until then, NO ONE including the assessors knows the true value of a given property. The whole system has descended into a giant scam just like the old system. I preferred the old system. Apparently we the taxpayers were snookered by the legislature when they changed the system. Perhaps Dopey Prince Eric the Chinless Wonder of Hoosierville should concentrate on fixing this scam rather than worry about marijuana. Marijuana is illegal but it still get widespread use. Guns are illegal for 15 year olds to carry or use yet they get their hands on them to commit murder which is also illegal. The laws are not enforced. Only the law-abiding obey them. There is a great lack or moral teaching in this country.

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Arlene November 28, 2022 at 2:10 pm

Hey if you like dead people then you’re in the right place. Between guns and illegal drugs it’s no wonder people are moving away. The way things are going with Biden we will be in a losing war in our country just like we have in our own state. Right now this world is just itching to start a war. And all BIDEN can do is kiss butts. The whole world is going crazy!
And I agree with Slacker06, Morals and respect are very hard to find.
Slacker 06 I couldn’t agree more with everything you have said. I’m 65 in good health but I’m ready to meet my maker. I just don’t want my grandkids to live through what this world has turned into.

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John Thomas November 29, 2022 at 5:15 pm

lol – So you didn’t know that NO ONE has ever died from consuming marijuana in all of recorded history?

Every person who chooses near harmless marijuana over addictive, very harmful alcohol, improves their health significantly – as well as the lives of their family and community.

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John November 28, 2022 at 6:28 pm

“Dopey Prince Eric the chinless wonder of Hooserville” I like that lol… But I believe you’re right money is the only thing that Indiana can comprehend. They have either lost or don’t actually use a immorality compass.

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Paul November 29, 2022 at 7:09 am

Tax cuts should be implemented along with a reduction in government spending! Marijuana will be legal in IN because government has a never quenched appetite for tax revenue, not any other reason!

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John Thomas November 29, 2022 at 5:17 pm

No. The main reason is that 70 percent of all Americans want to end the monstrously destructive, FRAUDULENTLY enacted, marijuana prohibition.

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Dana November 29, 2022 at 7:58 am

Thanks for telling everyone without telling everyone that you support the gop. That’s fine but your prez is still BIDEN. And the reason he can’t accomplish what he wants is the gop.As far as marijuana use: of course, there is widespread use. Ever ask yourself why?? It has the ability to heal many illnesses. People don’t want more pharmaceuticals when a plant can actually heal not mask symptoms. Yes people are exiting IN. Again, ask yourself why? Real estate is historically low $$ in the state but people are still leaving. It’s not due to property taxes! And guess what? You stating the world is ready to start a war. Lol…, there’s several already going on. Research it& get your head away from Fox News!

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John Thomas November 29, 2022 at 5:18 pm

People who have never tried marijuana have misconceptions about the effects. Marijuana doesn’t impair thinking. It enhances it. For this reason, it is widely valued in the creative and problem-solving professions.

Carl Sagan was a world-renowned astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and science educator. He had a brilliant career and was beloved by the English-speaking world for his ground-breaking, educational TV program, “Cosmos.” He smoked marijuana recreationally every day. He said:

“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world… The devastating insights achieved when high are real insights… I can remember one occasion… one idea led to another, and at the end of about an hour of extremely hard work I found I had written eleven short essays on a wide range of social, political, philosophical, and human biological topics… From all external signs, such as public reactions and expert commentary, they seem to contain valid insights. I have used them in university commencement addresses, public lectures, and in my books.”

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