Colorado and Washington have become the first states to allow pot for recreational use. Now, one Indiana lawmaker says she wants to decriminalize the drug here.
State Senator Karen Tallian of Portage, who's also a lawyer, says a small amount of pot shouldn't be a crime. She wants Indiana to join 14 other states where marijuana has been decriminalized, where getting caught with a small amount of pot is an infraction instead of a criminal misdemeanor. That means a ticket instead of jail time and a permanent mark on your record.
But the executive director of Drug Free Marion County says he's concerned it sends a dangerous mixed message to teens.
“I'm not going to say marijuana's the most dangerous drug out there,” said Randy Miller, but that's sort of like saying a small package of fries isn't as unhealthy for you as supersized fries. Doesn't mean it's not unhealthy – just maybe not as unhealthy."
"It takes too much toll on the criminal justice system and it accomplishes absolutely nothing," said Tallian.
Tallian said she introduced a bill in the 2012 legislative session, but it didn't reach the floor for a vote. She plans to introduce the bill again in January.
