Legalizing marijuana would be a bipartisan win for Indiana
The Indiana General Assembly is hard at work, and our state leaders are debating several policy issues to continue to make Indiana one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family. Some of the issues at the forefront include the overall budget, taxes, revenue and investments, education, health care and public safety.
While each of these issues is significant on its own, our state leadership has a unique opportunity to work across party lines to impact them all by working together to safely regulate marijuana for those 21 and older just like we do with alcohol and tobacco. We can create new revenue streams, improve health care opportunities and streamline processes and outcomes for public safety professionals in our state.
Hicks: Legalizing marijuana brings tax revenue, lower crime. Indiana is behind.
Last year, Safe and Regulated Indiana released a statewide survey that showed that 70% of Hoosiers think it's time to create a legalized market in Indiana. There are a few issues that people seem to agree on across the aisle, but this is one of them.
Gov. Mike Braun has responsibly opened the door to this conversation by endorsing medical marijuana and asking for further discussion on recreational use. Given that all of our neighboring states have legalized marijuana in some capacity, it is time for Indiana to have this conversation openly and transparently.
Indiana's decades of strong leadership have led it to become a strong fiscal example for the nation. Despite our strong fiscal position, we live in difficult times that have left us looking for ways to fund local units of government, public safety, health care, education, infrastructure and more. The good news is that if Indiana can set up a successful framework for a safe and regulated marijuana market, it will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue.
According to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, if House Bill 1630 passes, Indiana will generate $200.6 million in new revenue. Legislators can use those dollars to invest in education, public safety, infrastructure and whatever investments the Indiana General Assembly deems most in need. Passage would mean a significant investment for Hoosiers while aiming to keep taxes low!
While this new source of money is important, we should never pass a law just for revenue. More importantly, this is about helping people, protecting personal freedom and ensuring Hoosiers access to better health care options.
For too long, people who have cancer, PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain have had to rely on expensive medicine or, even worse, break the law just to get relief. No one should have to choose between getting the treatment they need and becoming a criminal. Medical marijuana is a safe, effective option that helps patients feel better without the dangerous side effects of opioids and other strong drugs.
This isn't a Republican or Democratic issue — it's a health care issue. Across the country, states of all political backgrounds have made medical marijuana legal because it helps people. It's time for Indiana to give patients, veterans and families the freedom to choose a treatment that works for them — without fear of punishment.
In addition to the medical benefits, a safe and regulated marketplace would also improve public safety and create a better relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Law enforcement and public safety leaders must be part of this discussion.
One of the biggest public safety impacts of legalization would be keeping people out of jail for low-level marijuana charges. Right now, too many Hoosiers — especially marginalized residents in Marion County — are arrested and jailed for simple possession. These arrests not only strain our legal system, but also disrupt lives, making it harder for people to find jobs, secure housing and contribute to their communities.
Legalization would free up law enforcement to focus on serious crime, rather than filling jails with nonviolent offenders. At the same time, regulation helps create safer roads. In Ohio, fatal car crashes linked to marijuana fell by 30% after legalization, showing that education and responsible policies can improve driving safety.
Additionally, states with legal marijuana have reported fewer opioid overdoses, an issue that has devastated communities across Indiana. If we take the right approach, legalization can make our communities safer and more prosperous.
Indiana has a great opportunity in front of it. A safe and regulated marijuana market would bring in additional revenue, improve health outcomes and ultimately improve the lives of law enforcement and public safety professionals across the state.
As a local leader, I encourage our state leadership to have the debate and act on this important topic. It will be another success in a long list of important accomplishments.
Michael-Paul Hart is the Republican minority leader on the City-County Council.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: House Bill 1630 gives Indiana a regulated marijuana market | Opinion
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