Medical marijuana bill assigned to graveyard

MUNCIE – One of the backers of a medical marijuana bill introduced by Sen. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, is the father of a Muncie woman who died in her 30s of a terminal illness.

“Her dad told me her best days were when she could get high-grade marijuana,” Errington says.

The fifth annual “Hoosier Survey,” conducted in 2012 by Ball State University, found that 53 percent of Hoosiers supported decriminalizing marijuana by making it legal to possess small quantities.

The 2013 “Hoosier Survey” found that 52 percent of Hoosiers supported making marijuana a regulated substance much like alcohol and tobacco, and that 78 percent of Hoosiers believed that marijuana should be taxed like cigarettes.

But don’t expect those findings to result in action by the Indiana General Assembly this year.

“Hoosiers see marijuana as a possible source of income for the state, but I don’t think we’ve reached critical mass yet for any immediate action on decriminalization,” says Joe Losco, a BSU political science professor. “I don’t think it’s going anywhere quickly.”

In the seventh annual “Hoosier Survey,” conducted last fall, marijuana was crowded out by other survey questions like Sunday alcohol sales and racial disparity in the treatment of individuals by police.

Errington says the speaker of the House assigned her marijuana bill to the Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee, also known as “the graveyard.”

“Bills that go there usually don’t come back out,” Errington said. “I would like it to at least get a hearing, so people could come and tell their stories — patients and physicians and others. I keep hearing that there are physicians in Muncie and elsewhere who would write prescriptions if it were legal.”

Errington also has heard from a local, middle-age husband and wife who had access to medical marijuana before moving to Muncie. “When they came here, she had to start going on pills, and she carries around a big purse of pills, whereas where they lived before she only had to take one thing,” Errington said. “She has seizures.”

Errington’s bill would permit “qualifying patients” to use medical marijuana under “qualifying medical conditions” including glaucoma, Chron’s disease, cancer, hepatitis, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, seizures, chronic nausea, chronic pain, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord injury and chronic muscle spasms.

State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, also has authored a medical marijuana bill.

The Legislature is dominated by Republicans, including Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, who told The Star Press: “Karen brings that bill every year. I don’t expect it’s going to get legs. It’s an interesting topic and something I need to learn more about,but I don’t support it. It looks like a slippery slope to me. I would need to hear more about it from an awful lot of people including medical experts before venturing down that path.”

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Marinol for therapeutic uses, including treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients. Marinol includes the active ingredient dronabinol, a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is considered the psychoactive component of marijuana. Another FDA-approved drug, Cesamet, contains the active ingredient nabilone which has a chemical structure similar to THC, and is synthetically derived.

Eckerty fields medical marijuana inquiries from constituents every year.

Rep. Greg Beumer, R-Modoc, has received “multiple inquiries” from constituents on the subject. “Typically, people are very passionate about it, not so much legalization, but people who suffer from chronic pain firmly believe this is a benefit for them and would improve their quality of life.” Beumer does not yet have a position on medical marijuana.”

Democrats in Indiana are more supportive of regulating marijuana like alcohol and tobacco (64 percent), while Republicans are evenly divided (49 percent in favor, 51 percent opposed).

“It’s certainly not part of the Republican agenda this session, and I think Republicans would see it as taking away from the consensus of their caucus,” Losco said. “In other states, it’s come in piecemeal, first through medical marijuana legalization, then decriminalization. ”

State Rep. Don Lehe, R-Brookston, has authored a bill providing that the exemption of industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana includes the fiber, seeds, resin and oil. State Rep. Terry Goodin, D-Austin, has filed a bill to exempt possession of cannabis oil from criminal penalties if the person is a patient at a hospital or clinic affiliated with a state medical school or is participating in a clinical trial.

The marijuana plant contains several chemicals that may prove useful for treating a range of illnesses or symptoms, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.