"My goal with (Senate Bill 52 and House Bill 1214) is to clear up the confusion about CBD oil and make it available to all people with some discomfort,"
The Indiana House took action Tuesday to allow Hoosiers to possess or buy low-THC cannabidiol oil, potentially clearing up months of confusion over current law.
The House unanimously passed Senate Bill 52, which would legalize CBD oil that contains only low-levels of THC. That is the component that at higher levels gives cannabis users a “high.”
If the measure clears a couple more hurdles, it could become law by late March.The bill already passed out of the Senate, but Sen. Michael Young, the bill author, said he doesn’t plan to vote to concur on the bill.
The House stripped some requirements out of the bill for CBD manufacturers and made it a level 5 felony to knowingly sell CBD oil with a higher amount of THC, labeled as low-THC.
“They changed the bill,” Young said. “I’d rather get it back and look at it first. I’m just not going to concur. That’s all I can say right now.”
Instead, the bill likely will head to a House-Senate conference committee where lawmakers will attempt to reach a compromise, before the bill can go to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk. Holcomb said he is OK with legalizing CBD with low levels of THC.
Last legislative session lawmakers passed a bill to allow epileptic patients on a registry to purchase CBD oil. The new law set off a flurry of CBD oil confiscations at nearly 60 retailers throughout Indiana.
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill later issued an opinion declaring the product illegal. Lawmakers promised to clarify the law and introduced at least 10 bills this legislative session.
“My goal with (Senate Bill 52 and House Bill 1214) is to clear up the confusion about CBD oil and make it available to all people with some discomfort,” said Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy.
The Senate is set to vote on two other CBD-related bills, including House Bill 1137, which would allow Hoosiers to grow low-THC hemp.
By Kaitlin Lange – Indy Star
Image – Pixabay
Medical marijuana is something I partake in regularly. I was able to get my license in AZ after a bursitis flare last summer but the truth of the matter is that I”ve been using it illegally since the late 70s. My spouse and I considered moving to CO after they legalized it but life got in the way. We are considering a move this spring to CA so there”s another state that has their priorities straight. Considering Indiana is now celebrating the second Sunday of carry out alcohol sales, I would imagine that legalizing marijuana there will happen in 2050 unless the next administration/congress finally decides to overcome the opiod crisis sooner by changing the Schedule 1 of marijuana to something like aspirin. It makes me wonder why the government is so slow about changing the laws about marijuana and wonder who is profiting from the current laws? Oh yes, private prisons. There”s your answer.