Let Indiana voters decide on cannabis legalization

There is a giant elephant in the living room of Indiana politics: cannabis legalization.

I have written to all of my elected officials. Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office replied and said he wouldn’t legalize cannabis use as long as it’s on the list of scheduled drugs. Sen. Mike Braun told me that not enough of us want it to be legal, so it’s a non-issue. Rep. Jim Baird told me that he voted for the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, which to me is a do-nothing vote.

That’s a handy little Catch-22. They vote for more studies, but more studies can’t be done because marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, making it nearly impossible for more studies to be done. All three of those positions are out of touch with what the people actually want. It would be nice if there was a way to put this in front of the voters, but voter referendums don’t exist in Indiana, making it easy for politicians to ignore matters that are important to people.

Indiana is bordered by states to the north, east and west where recreational cannabis sales are legal. All of these states have dispensaries right across the Indiana state line. Go to any of them and they are filled with Hoosier license plates. None of those tax dollars are going to Indiana.

I am urging everybody to stop ignoring this elephant. I want the local journalists to write about it. I want the politicians to talk about it so the voters know where they stand. I am urging all Hoosier voters to write and let their elected officials know where they stand. If the voters choose not to legalize cannabis, then so be it. I don’t think that would happen.

Like Sunday alcohol sales, cannabis legalization is going to happen in Indiana.

Mike Cheatham lives in Avon.