Pubdate: Wed, 05 Dec 2012
Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN)
Copyright: 2012 The Evansville Courier Company
Contact:  http://www.courierpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/138

DON'T EXPECT INDIANA TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell created a stir 
last week when he said that if left to him, he would legalize and 
then tax marijuana. Left to us, and we suspect to a majority of 
Hoosiers, it is not going to happen anytime soon.

One day, it will likely happen in Indiana and most other states -- 
that is, the decriminalization of marijuana use. Fifteen states have 
already decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, 
as two Indiana lawmakers have proposed. And just last month, Colorado 
and Washington voted to legalize the use of marijuana, while voters 
in one other state, Oregon, turned down legalization this year.

Clearly, American values about marijuana are changing, though it is 
unlikely that conservative old Indiana would be among the leaders; 
not so libertarians who generally oppose drug laws.

In Indiana, possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana is a Class A 
misdemeanor on the first offense, with a sentence up to one year. 
Possession of more than 30 grams is a Class D felony that carries a 
sentence of one to three years in prison. Supporters of 
decriminalization believe those sentences unnecessary crowd state 
prisons and jails.

Whitsell made headlines last month when, in answering a question from 
the State Budget Committee, told lawmakers that he believes 
legalization of marijuana is here to stay. Indiana Democratic Rep. 
Sheila Klinker responded in an Associated Press report that drug 
cartels now control marijuana use, getting money from it, rather than 
having states such as Indiana tax and control it.

There is merit in Klinker's logic, and it may eventually be a factor 
in decriminalization.

But for now, a legislative majority in Indiana is more likely to 
agree with Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams and Vanderburgh 
County Prosecutor Nick Hermann.

Williams said he is not in agreement with Whitesell at this time. He 
said he thinks he understands Whitesell's position, but he said that 
saying "we give up" is not the best attitude.

Hermann said that before thoughts of decriminalization are discussed, 
the state must first determine how to judge legal driving status for 
marijuana users.

"You can be just as intoxicated on marijuana as you can on as 
alcohol. The difference right now is that we can give you a test on 
the side of the road -- and set a level 0.08 -- and we can tell if 
you're too intoxicated to drive or not. For marijuana we don't have 
that kind of test," Hermann told Courier & Press staff writer Richard Gootee.

Regardless, neither Williams nor Hermann expect Indiana law to change 
anytime soon, and neither do we.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom