IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE STUDY OF POT LAWS

When it was announced recently that an interim legislative study
committee was going to look at Indiana's laws governing marijuana,
state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, took a beating in some quarters.

Some jumped to the conclusion that Tallian's purpose for the study
was to have marijuana legalized.

Although Tallian thinks marijuana ought to be treated like alcohol,
it's not her intent to push for legalization. She knows it would be futile.

That's fine because there is much that can be done with Indiana's
marijuana laws without seeking legalization. Tallian is a lawyer and
has seen firsthand the impact of laws governing marijuana.

"One day, I watched three young kids plead cases on possession of
small amounts," Tallian said. "I thought, 'Why are we spending all of
the time and money to do this? Frankly, I put marijuana in the same
category as alcohol."

Tallian said several legislators agreed that marijuana ought to be
looked at, but all were afraid to publicly connect themselves to the issue.

"So, I decided to get the information and see where it goes," Tallian said.

The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee will look at
various angles of the issue, including the effects of marijuana on
the criminal justice system, whether penalties should be adjusted for
certain amounts, whether the state should have a medical marijuana
program and whether it should be regulated like alcohol.

Clearly, changes should be made.

We have too many people -- too often young people -- serving time in
Indiana based on convictions for possessing small amounts of
marijuana. That does little other than to jam our jails with people
who shouldn't have to be there, as well as place a stigma on the
person who was convicted.

The interim study committee came about when Tallian's bill in the
Senate didn't advance.

Among those expected to testify over the next few months are medical
professionals, defense attorneys, prosecutors and law enforcement,
Tallian said.

"There are a wide range of people interested in the topic," she said.

Count us among them, and we hope what will result is a change in some
of the Draconian laws governing marijuana in this state.