Indiana prosecuting attorneys on Friday, November 3, asked the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse to formally oppose the legalization of marijuana in the state, in any form, for any purpose. The request came in the form of a letter from the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys, Inc., (a non-profit corporation) that cited prospective efforts to legalize marijuana during the 2018 session of the Indiana legislature.
On behalf of the association, Executive Secretary David Powell cited the following reasons marijuana legalization is bad for Indiana:
- Marijuana use increases the risk of opioid abuse and other controlled substances and has been associated with reduced odds of achieving abstinence from alcohol, cocaine or polysubstance use.
- Marijuana is not medicine and information purporting that marijuana is medicine is based on half-truths and anecdotal evidence.
- Marijuana legalization in other states has been a detriment; specifically to workforce availability, impaired driving and in increased use among youth.
Powell wrote, “…we strongly believe both medicinal and recreational marijuana legalization are wrong for Indiana. We urge you to stake a stand against these policies that would cause further harm to communities already suffering from the devastating effects of drug abuse.”
ATTACHMENT: Letter to the Commission to Combat Drug Abuse
