Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2011
Source: Post-Tribune (Merrillville, IN)
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/DenTBXGM
Copyright: 2011 Post-Tribune
Website: http://posttrib.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3349

IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE STUDY OF POT LAWS

When it was announced recently that an interim legislative study 
committee was going to look at Indiana's laws governing marijuana, 
state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, took a beating in some quarters.

Some jumped to the conclusion that Tallian's purpose for the study 
was to have marijuana legalized.

Although Tallian thinks marijuana ought to be treated like alcohol, 
it's not her intent to push for legalization. She knows it would be futile.

That's fine because there is much that can be done with Indiana's 
marijuana laws without seeking legalization. Tallian is a lawyer and 
has seen firsthand the impact of laws governing marijuana.

"One day, I watched three young kids plead cases on possession of 
small amounts," Tallian said. "I thought, 'Why are we spending all of 
the time and money to do this?  Frankly, I put marijuana in the same 
category as alcohol."

Tallian said several legislators agreed that marijuana ought to be 
looked at, but all were afraid to publicly connect themselves to the issue.

"So, I decided to get the information and see where it goes," Tallian said.

The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee will look at 
various angles of the issue, including the effects of marijuana on 
the criminal justice system, whether penalties should be adjusted for 
certain amounts, whether the state should have a medical marijuana 
program and whether it should be regulated like alcohol.

Clearly, changes should be made.

We have too many people -- too often young people -- serving time in 
Indiana based on convictions for possessing small amounts of 
marijuana. That does little other than to jam our jails with people 
who shouldn't have to be there, as well as place a stigma on the 
person who was convicted.

The interim study committee came about when Tallian's bill in the 
Senate didn't advance.

Among those expected to testify over the next few months are medical 
professionals, defense attorneys, prosecutors and law enforcement, 
Tallian said.

"There are a wide range of people interested in the topic," she said.

Count us among them, and we hope what will result is a change in some 
of the Draconian laws governing marijuana in this state.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom