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INDIANAPOLIS — State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, filed legislation Tuesday that would permit Hoosiers to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana for recreational purposes.

If Senate Bill 213 next year becomes law, Indiana would join Michigan, and likely Illinois, as Great Lakes states that have eliminated criminal penalties for adult marijuana use.

Tallian knows she faces an uphill battle to win approval for her proposal in the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

But she said support for legalizing marijuana is at an all-time high, and Indiana certainly could use the revenue generated from taxes on marijuana sales.

The 2018 Hoosier Survey, an Oct. 2 to Oct. 20 telephone poll of 604 randomly selected Indiana adults by Issues and Answers Network Inc., found that more than 8 in 10 Hoosiers favor legalization of either recreational or medicinal marijuana.

"Since marijuana programs cannot be approved by a ballot initiative (in Indiana), it is up to the Legislature to follow the will of the people," Tallian said.