SEYMOUR, Ind. — Now that the Canadian Senate has approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, State Representative Jim Lucas of Seymour believes it will expedite the process on lawmakers legalizing it in Indiana.
“I would hate like hell to think that we’re basing our freedoms and our laws off of Canada,” says Rep. Lucas, “but you have a country that’s just north of us leading the way on an issue that so many Americans are overwhelming in favor of it.”
Rep. Lucas introduced House Bill 1106 during the 2018 General Assembly that would have allowed the cultivation, dispensing, and use of medical marijuana by those with serious medical conditions. But, the bill was not pushed forward by other Hoosier lawmakers.
However, Indiana lawmakers did approve a summer study committee to examine the issue of marijuana and whether it should be legal for medical or recreational use.
Even though the issue did not gain enough support this year, Rep. Lucas says the legalization of marijuana in Canada will eventually lead to changes in Indiana.
“Canada is the ‘canary in the coal mine,’” says Rep. Lucas. “When you look within our own country, we have 29 states that have medical [marijuana] and nine that have recreational [marijuana], it’s coming our way. This is something that is going to happen.”
Photo – RTV6
