Group rallies for legalization of medical cannabis

State representative plans to introduce a bill addressing the issue

• By Alex Modesitt 
  
  A steady stream of cars passed the Vigo County courthouse Saturday afternoon honking their horns in support of the more than 50 people demonstrating for the legalization of medical cannabis use in Indiana.
  
  IndyCann Higher Society of Indiana hosted the rally as part of their 92 county tour around the state that aims to influence voters and legislators heading into next year’s legislative session.
  
  Bobbie Jo Young, founder and president of IndyCann, said the series of demonstrations is the most effective way to rally people around her cause in a state as conservative as Indiana.
  
  
  “We are fighting for our rights. We’re fighting for our freedoms and we’re doing it in the most positive way possible,” Young said addressing the throng from the courthouse steps.
  
  “Our movement is old school in that we think — if you want to change the laws you have to rally the people and go, with the people, to the politicians.”
  
  She said while some at the rally may want to fight for recreational use of marijuana, her group is solely focused on the legalization of medical cannabis for the time being.
  
  “We’re really trying to break the stigma and turn this fight into a professional medical interest,” Young said.
  
  At least one member of the state’s majority party is listening to the group’s message.
  
  State Representative and assistant majority whip Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, plans to introduce a bill addressing the use of medical cannabis in the next legislative session.
  
  Young said Lucas has been very upfront in their conversations about IndyCann’s request for new legislation in that he only deals in facts and that opinions are checked at the door.
  
  “Nobody on this team is going to give you their opinion on medical cannabis, we’re only going to give you facts,” Young said. “Facts are what change laws, so when I go and sit down and have lunch with Jim Lucas, facts are what he wants. He doesn’t want my opinion, he only wants facts.”
  
  Young said she feels Indiana is closer to medical cannabis legalization than most realize, a change that she believes will help many manage pain and recover from ills more comfortably.
  
  Scott Cooksey, an attendee from Terre Haute, hopes Young is right about, saying his son is in dire need of an alternative from the 18 pills he takes to manage seizures.
  
  
  “My son needs the help of medical cannabis, we’re out of options,” Cooksey said. “My wife and I believe that cannabis can and will help him.”
  
  He added that he has been a proponent of medical cannabis use for years and that he hopes a resolution comes from the capital sooner rather than later.
  
  “I wish they had passed something yesterday,” Cooksey said with a laugh. “I just hope they try the medical and get my son off the poison he’s on.”
  
  Cooksey said he has attended a number of IndyCann’s rallies and hopes the popular support is enough to enact change at the statehouse.
  
  “I hope they can give the legislators enough evidence to open their eyes to the evidence and not the stigma that’s been hung on medical cannabis over the years,” Cooksey said.