As feds move to reclassify marijuana, here's where Indiana's governor candidates stand
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Federal restrictions on marijuana have long been a reason Indiana's top elected officials have declined to rethink their stance on the drug for medical or recreational use.
But Thursday, the federal Department of Justice officially proposed re-classifying marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to the less-restrictive Schedule III, acknowledging the medical benefits of the drug and its lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs like heroin.
Indiana's legislative leaders, with whom the power to change the state's marijuana laws lie, are talking about this change at the federal level, even if they didn't assign the topic to an interim legislative study committee this year as they have in previous summers.
More: Biden moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous. What do Hoosiers in Congress think?
"It's certainly a topic, especially if the federal government does make a change, that obviously is relevant," Senate President Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, told reporters after legislative leaders assigned committee topics on Tuesday. "It's not to say, however, that there won't be some people looking at that over the summer."
House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers added that he shared a Wall Street Journal article about it with "many people" over the weekend.
Interest in the topic among Republicans, who control Indiana's state government, has grown at a slow trickle. Bills decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana are frequently pitched in the Indiana General Assembly, but only in 2023 did one such bill finally get a hearing. Gov. Eric Holcomb has maintained for years that he wouldn't consider changing his stance because the drug is a Schedule I drug.
Hoosiers don't have a direct say in the matter, except through their elected representatives. Indiana is not one of the 23 states where citizens can introduce a ballot initiative.
Related: Ohio voted to legalize recreational marijuana. Why Indiana is unlikely to do the same
Though the decision primarily lies with the legislature, Indiana's next governor could also set a tone with regard to marijuana. Here's how the three candidates who will appear on the November ballot view the topic.
Republican Mike Braun
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun said on a gubernatorial debate stage in March that he's open to discussing the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use.
"Medical marijuana is where I think the case is best made, that maybe something needs to change, but I'll take my cue from law enforcement," he said. "I hear a lot of input where that's helpful and I think that you need to listen and see what makes sense."
Recreational marijuana will be left to future generations, he's said previously.
Democrat Jennifer McCormick
Former state schools superintendent Jennifer McCormick supports legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana and building a "well-regulated cannabis market," she told IndyStar last year.
She argues it would boost the state's economy and add millions to the state's budget in tax revenue, in addition to bringing health and social justice benefits.
"Legalizing medical marijuana would be the first step and carries the benefit of providing doctors one more tool in treating suffering patients," she said. "Indiana must take this even further by passing legislation decriminalizing marijuana to support impacted Hoosiers and the criminal justice system.”
Libertarian Donald Rainwater
Donald Rainwater said he thinks the prohibition on marijuana in Indiana contributes to violent crime, the rise of fentanyl-laced cannabis and the incarceration of too many nonviolent people.
"Too many taxpayer dollars are being spent on Indiana's failed war on cannabis," he said last year. "Whether you believe cannabis is helpful or harmful, I believe that every Hoosier citizen should be afforded the same rights to make the decision concerning cannabis use for themselves, the same as they can for alcohol and tobacco."
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: If feds reclassify marijuana, what might Indiana's next governor do?
