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by Shelby Whitaker, WSBT 22 Reporter
The Justice Department issued an order rescheduling certain marijuana products to a lower drug classification. (WSBT File photo)
SOUTH BEND, IN (WSBT) — A major decision from the White House may have local implications.
The Justice Department issued an order rescheduling certain marijuana products to a lower drug classification.
The order does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use.
It does change the way state medical marijuana is regulated. The change shifts it from a Schedule 1 drug like heroin or LSD to a less strictly regulated schedule 3.
Medical marijuana remains illegal in Indiana and has been for more than a hundred years.
People are wondering if this reclassification could change how Indiana views marijuana.
While the future of marijuana legalization in Indiana remains uncertain. At the federal level, things are changing and it could impact Indiana's future.
The issuance of this order immediately places products containing marijuana that are regulated by a state medical marijuana licenses from schedule 1 to schedule 3.
That's now the same level as Tylenol with codeine.
“I think it's encouraging for us in Indiana on a local level being that Indiana sits between Illinois, Michigan and Ohio and and they're all approved already. And so I'm hopeful that it gets everything moving and provides some relief for everybody that on the medical marijuana side,” said State Representative Randy Novak (D), Michigan City.
The Justice Department issued an order rescheduling certain marijuana products to a lower drug classification. (WSBT File photo)
The Justice Department issued an order rescheduling certain marijuana products to a lower drug classification. (WSBT File photo)
Indiana is just one of ten states where both medicinal and recreational marijuana are not legal.
All of the neighboring states allow for one or both reasons.
“Being the fact that in the figure I got from the the attorney general states I think there's 45 other states and groups that have this already,” said Novak. “So, given the fact that those are already in place. Indiana has that has the opportunity to really make sure we get it right and when we implement something we approve something for medical marijuana.”
While it's hard to say exactly what the economic impact could be for marijuana legalization.
It could bring in additional tax dollars for the state.
Lawmakers expecting conversations to continue.
“I absolutely think with the federal government easing up on this. It should open the door to more at least some some legislation coming in. Hopefully it would come the come in the form of from the minorities and and the majority. So, hopefully it's a bipartisan bill that comes through and and we get something moving forward,” said Novak.
The federal government will look at additional broader changes to marijuana's status under federal law in June.
WSBT reached out to Indiana Governor Mike Braun about what this could mean for Indiana but we have not heard back.
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