Indiana NORML

Hoosiers are standing up in droves all over the state! In areas that we worried even about saying the word “Ma*****na” we are seeing growing support. Indiana NORML has contacts in many counties. People are calling their officials at an ever increasing rate. Some of those officials are rethinking their positions. Others will. The worst fear a politician has is not being re-elected. It's becoming obvious that they either back the Cannabis issue or face a struggle in the next election. All of Indiana's Representatives face election next year as does half of the Indiana Senate. All of our federal Congress people are up for election, as is Senator Joe Donnelly. We are hopeful that our federal officials, who do not support Cannabis, can be either swayed...or voted out of office. We have growing support in the Indiana General Assembly on both sides of the aisle. A lot of these officials are beginning to understand that they have been lied to by those with vested interests and are beginning to look at the truth: Cannabis is a safe and effective medicine and people shouldn't be denied the right to use it.

Indiana NORML has spent decades telling the truth about Cannabis/Hemp/Ma*****na. For many of those years, we met with great resistance from both Prohibitionists and the organizations that support them, like the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney's Council (IPAC). But we persisted. We took every opportunity to speak to Hoosiers about the benefits of Cannabis. We have countered generations-old lies about Cannabis. Contrary to what the prohibitionists want us all to believe that there is no research into Cannabis, there are volumes of scientific evidence to back our claims. This year, we finally made a break through. Every poll, even casual ones, show massive support for relegalization.

There are many people to thank for this. We have not been alone in the fight. Indiana's military veterans, suffering from a variety of maladies from their service to our country, realize the benefits of Cannabis. We stand proudly with our brothers and sisters in the Indiana American Legion, AMVETS and others. There are new organizations springing up that we are working with, and established organizations like the First Church of Cannabis, Hoosier Veterans for Medical Cannabis, The Higher Fellowship and others.

And we are very thankful for Indiana House District 69 Representative Jim Lucas. Jim broke the Republican silence on the issue and has done solid research into our issues. He joins our heroes Sue Errington and Karen Tallian on the front lines of relegalization.

We have developed an exciting Board of Directors for Indiana NORML. We have stellar legal and general guidance from Steve Dillon, Bill Martin, Bill Groth and Fred Pfenninger. Steve Dillon is also Chairman of the Board of national NORML. A lot of creative input from John Northerner. Energy and organization from Jack Cain. Getting us in front of the public is David Phipps. Beyond excellent research and insight from Jason Straw, and Janie Dolan Westermeier who does a thousand things for us. We all wear several hats. They all fit well.

And we have accomplished a lot this year. We have made friends and allies in many circles. We held two successful town hall meetings, utilizing the research and talent of people like Dr. Thomas Clark of IU South Bend, and Chad Bartalone of Ivy Tech South Bend. Their research, right here in Indiana, shows quite clearly the promise of Cannabis medicines and why and how they work. We have reached out to a variety of people and organizations, of various political stripes and walks of life.

But most importantly, we have connected with you. Tens of thousands of people throughout the state are reading our page. Tens Thousands of Hoosiers have called their officials and various organizations with the message of relegalization. Thousands of you have responded to mainstream media stories about Cannabis arrests expressing displeasure that Hoosiers are having their lives disrupted because of a beneficial plant that has never killed anyone in the history of mankind. You are the ones who will ultimately win. It will be when we put fear of rejection into the hearts of our officials that positive change will finally happen, and we are well on the way to accomplishing that goal.

2017 has seen the burgeoning of the Hoosier Cannabis movement. Old and young, rich and poor, name your demographic and people are standing up. But we have to keep up the momentum. We will make progress in the upcoming General Assembly; how much progress depends on all of us. Let's make 2018 the year we set prohibition to full retreat.

Onward through the fog!

Neal Smith,

Chairman,

Indiana NORML.

http://inorml.com/join/