Senate lawmakers heard testimony on Tuesday, January 24, in favor of legislation to decriminalize marijuana possession penalties in Indiana. Senate Bill 347, introduced by Sen. Karen Tallian, amends state law so that the adult possession of up to three ounces of marijuana is reduced from a potential felony (punishable by up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine) to a noncriminal infraction. Passage of this measure would amend Indiana law from one of the strictest in the nation to one of the most lenient.

Senate Bill 347 also amends Indiana's traffic safety code to halt the prosecution of motorists who test positive for the presence of inactive marijuana metabolites in their urine (so-called zero tolerance per se legislation) but who do not otherwise manifest any other evidence of behavioral impairment.

Marijuana law reform remains a significant topic of discussion in the Indiana legislature. Last year, lawmakers heard testimony in favor of amending the state's punitive marijuana laws and convened a special legislative study group over the summer to further examine this issue. Senator Tallian's proposal, though not anticipated to receive a vote this year, will continue to move this discussion forward and represents our best opportunity in decades to enact sensible marijuana policies in Indiana.

Please contact your Senator today and urge him or her to support SB 347 by visiting NORML's Take Action Center here:

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=60386581

If your Senator sits on the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters, then it is especially important that he or she hears from you. Further information regarding statewide marijuana law reform efforts is available from Indiana NORML.

Sincerely,
The NORML Team