State senator proposes study of Indiana’s marijuana laws

A state senator has propsed a review of Indiana's marijuana laws, with particular emphasis on the drug's impact on the criminal justice system.

Karen Tallian (D-Portage) sent the proposal to the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Committee, which evaluates criminal laws as well as sentencing laws and policies.

Tallian's argument for the proposal concerns reduced public spending on marijuana enforcement.

"We spend countless dollars pursuing non-violent offenders," Tallian said. "It has been estimated that the cost of pursuing these cases are upwards of $150,000 a year."

Reduced spending has become a common platform since the 2008 economic crisis and GOP congressional victory last fall.

"Our society is demanding reduced government and budget costs…we want to examine if we want to spend our tax dollars on marijuana arrests or on education," Tallian said.

Tallian's proposal calls on the policy committee looking into Indiana's current marijuana sentencing laws.

"I'm asking that the study committee look at whether our sentencing and laws are appropriate, or should be changed. Indiana has some of the most strict sentences for marijuana possession in the country," she said.

Being found in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana in Indiana is a misdemeanor with the possibility of one year incarceration.

Marijuana is labeled as a Schedule I narcotic by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Heroine is also a Schedule I drug, while methamphetamine is listed as Schedule II.

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.

The committee would look into the possibility of allowing medical marijuana in Indiana or fully legalizing and regulating the substance.

 "I'm also asking them to look at whether we should treat marijuana like alcohol where you control sales and tax it," Tallian said.

According to Jeffrey Miron, professor and director of undergraduate studies in Harvard's economic department, Indiana could gain $17.8 million in tax revenue from legalized marijuana. This is outlined in Miron's 2005 study, "Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition."

According to the DEA's 2005 Domestic Eradication and Suppression program, Indiana had the highest amount of wildly grown marijuana with well over 200 million plants destroyed. Indiana also had 714 marijuana related arrests— the third highest in the study, trailing behind California and Hawaii.

According to last year's National Drug Threat Assessment by the U.S. Department of Justice, "the amount of marijuana produced in the United States appears to be very high."

The assessment also points to increased levels in indoor cultivation and the involvement of organized crime in the production and distribution of marijuana.