Indiana lawmakers weigh in after federal order reclassifying marijuana is signed

INDIANA -- Lawmakers in the Hoosier state shared their take on the news after President Trump's acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, signed an order making medical marijuana a schedule three drug.

Schedule three drugs are "less dangerous drugs" and includes Tylenol with codeine and ketamine. Schedule three drugs aren't as strictly regulated. It was initially listed as a schedule one drug, which is reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse. Schedule one drugs include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.

ABC57 spoke with Democratic State Representative Randy Novak who represents House District 9, and Republican Juanita Haney who is running to represent House District 20. They shared their take on the news and what this could mean for the Hoosier state.

Representative Novak calls the new order encouraging. "There were several bills last session that followed the federal guideline, so I'm encouraged that we’re going to take the next step and do the same thing with this," he shared.

Haney says cannabis has been a hot topic in the state, especially since neighboring states like Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio have legalized marijuana. “I think medical cannabis is an effective tool for pain management. There’s been certain impact studies about mental health that show it’s not so great with, so I think we need a regulated physician led program in Indiana. I think that would be necessary to move forward with medical marijuana," Haney explained.

Both Novak and Haney acknowledged the numerous cannabis shops near the state line, which Novak says is to service Hoosiers. They also touched on the revenue that could be brought to the state. "It's a win-win. It's going to generate revenue for the state of Indiana that is needed and it's also going to provide some relief for the people that needed for medical purposes," said Novak.

"I think revenue is a secondary benefit, but it's definitely an important one right now. Indiana is essentially donating millions of dollars to Michigan and Illinois every year. Financial experts say that we could pull in $170 million," Haney shared.

Novak says the issue of whether to legalize marijuana could create common ground across the political aisle. "If we do this right and we plan it right and we wait for a summer study committee or whatever needs to be done, I'm confident that we can get some kind of bipartisan legislation moving forward to get Indiana moving in the right direction."

For Haney, the final say isn't up to her. "It’s not whether I'm for or against it. It’s what the voters are for.”

ABC57 asked both of them whether they think this reclassification could lead to marijuana possibly being legalized for recreational use.

They both said right now, their focus is on the medical aspect and those who could benefit from it.