(WPTA) – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun says he is open to talking about marijuana policy as things change around the country.
Indiana is surrounded by states that have legalized marijuana. Illinois, Michigan and Ohio allow recreational use, while Kentucky allows medical marijuana.
Braun says Indiana shouldn’t stick its head in the sand.
Advocates who have long pushed for legalization are waiting to see what happens next.
Reporters asked Braun where he stands now that the federal government has reclassified medical marijuana to a less restrictive category.
“You’re going to need to ask the legislators and the leaders of those two chambers to see what they’re thinking because I’m clear in terms of where I’m at, and I think just like anything, you’ve got to take what’s evolved over time,” Braun said. “You stick your head in the sand, you’re generally going to make the wrong decision.”
Jeff Staker is a Marine veteran who is originally from Fort Wayne. He also served as an aircraft firefighter for the Indiana Air National Guard in the Summit City.
“My dad was a World War II veteran, and I’ve always wanted to go in the service,” Staker said. “I knew that that was what I was going to do when I was a young child.”
He formed a group called Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis 10 years ago. He suffers from chronic back issues and says marijuana is a much better long-term solution for pain than opioids.
“I’ve seen too many veterans in the past that were dying from their medication,” Staker said.
Staker is worried legislators would be slow to act on marijuana legislation. He wants the governor to create a cannabis compliance commission by executive order.
The commission would study other states, then help draft legislation.
“For the past 10 years, we’ve had 12 to 15 pieces of legislation that have called for this commission, and every time it just seems like they’ve had a can that they could kick down the road,” Staker said. “With that federal restriction being lifted and the rescheduling, that road doesn’t exist anymore.”
Staker says the commission would include representatives from the Indiana Department of Health, law enforcement, doctors and patients. He has met with state officials and is hoping to line up a meeting with the governor next.
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