INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's 91 prosecuting attorneys have sent a letter to the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse asking the group to formally oppose the legalization of marijuana in the state, in any form, for any reason.
The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys, Inc. says it was prompted to send the letter due to the approach of the 2018 legislative session and reports of efforts to legalize marijuana in Indiana.
Rep. Jim Lucas has saidhe plans to file a proposal to legalize medical marijuanain hopes it could curb the state's opioid epidemic. The republican legislator from Seymour said he has heard from several people in his district who believe they could benefit from the drug.
The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys says marijuana legalization is bad for Indiana for the following reasons:
- 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.
"For all of these reasons, we strongly believe both medicinal and recreational marijuana legalization are wrong for Indiana. We urge you to take a stand against these policies that would cause further harm to communities already suffering from the devastating effects of drug abuse," said David Powell, Executive Secretary, Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys, Inc.
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has also said he does not believe the state should legalize marijuana.
RELATED |Indiana Legislature approves bills on marijuana-derived oil
Read the entire letter from the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys, Inc. below:
