IndianaLocalNews

Marijuana, abortion, tax possibilities in Indiana next year

(95.3 MNC)

You likely won’t hear anything from the state legislature this coming year about abortion. But, you might hear at least some discussions about decriminalizing marijuana, and helping provide some relief on property taxes.

You may be paying a lot more in property taxes as home valuations have gone up. Still, state government has limitations on what it can do to help.

“In a way it’s a good thing, right? Because people’s property values are going up. So, that’s encouraging,” said Sen. Rod Bray, a Republican and Senate president pro tem. “But, the impact that it has on people and the bill they have to pay twice a year can be really challenging.”

Speaker of the Indiana House Todd Huston, a Republican, said the House will have a discussion about it.

“No property taxes go to state government. It’s all local government and we’ll work with our local government partners to figure out how we can provide relief,” he said.

Bray also said the Senate will look at it, but warned that state lawmakers have to be careful because any changes impact schools, which rely on property tax dollars.

Both men talked to reporters during “Organization Day”, which happens every November at the Statehouse ahead of January’s legislative session.

During this summer’s special session lawmakers passed abortion legislation that essentially bans most abortions in Indiana, with discussion about additions or modifications in 2023. Broth Bray and Huston say the issue likely won’t be brought up, though.

“First of all we worked super hard on that over the summer and, not dying to go back there,” said Bray. “But, we’ve got the Supreme Court that’s taking a look at that issue (it’s on hold) and it wouldn’t be wise at all for us to take a crack at any changes until we know what that ruling’s going to be.”

Both Bray and Huston also seemed more open when talking about whether marijuana decriminalization or legalization would be up for debate in 2023, following a summer study committee, where testimony was heard about medical and economic benefits.

“I personally remain skeptical. But, I recognize that people want to have that conversations and we’ll see what our committee chairs decide,” he said. “I’m saying anything’s possible.”

Bray said he believes the Senate will “talk about it” this legislative session.

“What exactly we’ll end up doing I’m not prepared to say just yet. It does make some sense to begin to put in some infrastructure including like Delta 8 for instance, to try to outline what that would look like and to try to have some regulation on it.”

Gov. Holcomb has been unmoving in his stance that as long as it remains illegal federally, he does not want to see it legalized in Indiana.

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10 comments

K&D Obermeyer November 27, 2022 at 2:32 pm

I agree with our govenor to keep the marjuana illegal in our state because we dont always have to follow suit with other states to legalize the substance. Just think about how many people would love to have that substance in their hands and have numerous accidents or not being caught while in pocession with it. No the govenor is correct we need to keep it illegal here in the state of indiana.

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Jim November 27, 2022 at 6:01 pm

Alcohol sales and accidents are down in Illinois after the legalization.
State coffers are flush with tax money from legal sales, Indiana MUST look at the big picture and take a step into the 21st century

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John November 27, 2022 at 6:34 pm

What are you a drug dealer 🤔 seems to me it’s every where, even in most gas stations. The drug dealers, Lawyers, And judges or jails, Are the only ones profiting from the sale or possession of marijuana. If everyone has to go to a drug dealer so there’s no tax.. They see other drugs and other drugs are pushed onto them that are way worse this is how these harmful drugs are ending up in the hands of kids and people that are have an hard time staying away from bad things. Not to mention it’s proven it has way more medical uses. The taxes alone and would pay for our streets are police are fire departments our schools. You have a very single minded point of view of this medicine.

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Charles U Farley November 28, 2022 at 2:59 pm

You realize there is no functional difference between your position and the people who want to ban 16oz soft drinks, right? Or ban cigarettes? Or alcohol? And that your position is quite similar to the people who would mandate a vaccine, right?

Government overriding individual choices is tyranny. It’s sad that you would be OK with it because it’s YOUR version of tyranny.

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Charles U Farley November 27, 2022 at 2:36 pm

Don’t expect too much, remember that Rod Bray was the RINO who kept blocking Constitutional Carry.

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Marcia Yakim November 27, 2022 at 3:37 pm

Leagalization would make it much less likely that a person would end up with something “tainted” with a dangerous substance.

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Tracey November 27, 2022 at 4:09 pm

I believe it should have been legalized a long time ago it would only help with Income for the United States. Alcohol is in my book just as Or worse medically for us !!

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Chris November 27, 2022 at 5:08 pm

Marijuana is the least of this state’s worries. If people want to get it, they will and if not sone in a well-controlled environment or at a dispensary in Illinois or Michigan, then it’ll likely be gotten through a dealer which carrie’s the possibility of putting oneself in danger. The folks caught with possession are arrested, jailed, charged with a serious crime, go to court and likely jail/prison wasting an immense amount of resources that we desperately need addressing gun violence and more dangerous drugs like crystal meth, heroin, fentanyl, etc. And contrary to the popular spread of misinformation, marijuana is not a gateway drug to others and certainly significantly less dangerous than alcohol. And we can’t ignore the health benefits which is widely researched and published in legitimate peer-reviewed scientific journals. And then there is the tax revenue that could be earmarked for more intervention programs for at-risk youth and law enforcement to combat the more serious social issues Indiana has to deal with on a daily basis (e.g., gun violence, elder/spouse/child abuse and neglect, other more hardcore harmful narcotics, murder, rape, physical/sexual assault, and the list goes on). We’ve got it all wrong when we start grouping marijuana users in with those crimes. (This response/post written by someone who is republican and a non-user of marijuana or other cannabis products.)

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Chris Evans November 27, 2022 at 5:34 pm

We need to legalize marijuana so are property taxes will go down in INDIANA .its getting ridiculous.

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Jaren Woods December 19, 2022 at 2:54 pm

It’s time our governor and representatives see the light. Indiana as a state is loosing money from marijuana still being illegal. Holcomb do the right thing and let the indiana people decide. Alcohol and cigarettes are worst but yet both are legalized. Stop using its not legalized on a federally level as an excuse.

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