After Republican leadership had blocked the issue being considered in session after sessions, Indiana Democratic lawmakers devised a clever way to force a House vote for marijuana legalization. However, the chamber eventually rejected the proposal.
Senate Bill 20 (legislation relating to rules for businesses who sell alcohol and/or hemp products) was passed by the House on its second reading. The measure creates a regulatory distinction that allows “craft hemp” products to be sold to adults aged 21 or older.
Justin Moed (D), a Representative, tried to expand the bill by proposing an amendment to strike language that defines hemp as cannabis containing no more THC than 0.3 percent dry weight. This is the federal definition for legal hemp.
The legislation was effectively removed to allow for marijuana legalization. It would simply replace the regulations for sale of craft hemp including flower with cannabis of any level.
However, the amendment was rejected in a 58-33% vote.
Marijuana Moment spoke to Moed in a telephone interview on Thursday. He said that it was difficult for them to get an up-or down vote on the matter. “So, the way it was written was in a way that they wouldn’t be able use the rules to stop us having to vote on the issue, which is exactly what they have been doing up until this point.”
He explained that they had to expand their work with craft hemp rather than drafting a bill or amend dealing with it. They would simply rule it out-of-order and prevent us from holding an up-or down vote.
The representative pointed out that six Republicans supported the amendment along with one Democrat.
“Time and again, we are prevented from casting a ballot on cannabis reform in IN. “Today, thanks to some creativity by House Dems we finally got a ballot,” Rep. Blake Johnson (D), said in a tweet on Thursday. The record now shows who is for and against cannabis in Indiana.
Here is the roll call for Amendment #1. pic.twitter.com/q3rPfhppLv
Blake Johnson (@IndyBlakeJ April 6, 2023
In Indiana, Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers and it has been difficult to advocate marijuana reform.
A bill to decriminalize possession up to 2 ounces of cannabis was heard in February but is not expected to move this session.
Pre-filed measures to legalize and regulate adult use of marijuana were submitted for consideration by the 2023 session. However, they have not been considered by the committee.
Rep. Cindy Ziemke (R), stated late last year that she intended to introduce a legalization legislation . However, the former-assistant majority chair resigned at end of last session.
Former Indiana Senator Jim Merritt (R), recognized the difficulties of moving the issue forward in Indiana’s legislature. He advocated for legislation at the very least to form a Commission charged with studying legalization.
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Even if a legalization measure made it through the conservative legislature, it would likely be blocked by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), who stated earlier in the year that he won’t support reform so long as it is federally prohibited.
He has expressed his support for marijuana research expansion and some openness to decriminalization.
Moed stated that Democrats will continue to push for marijuana reform and he would support having a discussion about decriminalization, if Republicans are willing to seriously consider it.
He stated that he believed those in the Democratic caucus believe they must take action and that they are open to any compromises or negotiating necessary to move the ball forward. “But we don’t think that anyone who is seeking medical relief or has very little cannabis product for any reason, whether it’s mental or veteran-related–should be considered a criminal for doing so.
He said that he believed the present was an attempt to give people a voice in legislatures. “The system has been so stifled to this point,” he stated. “Unfortunately, it was not voted on by all the people who had said they were in favor of it.”
Major Alcohol Association Executives Urge Industry To Support Efforts To Legalize Marijuana
Photo by Philip Steffan.
The post Indiana Democrat Forces Marijuana Legalization to Vote in House, but GOP Lawmakers Reject it originally appeared on Marijuana Moment.
