Indiana State Police Chief Say He Would Legalize And Tax Pot


In the wake of the Colorado and Washington referendums to legalize marijuana for recreational use there are hundreds of influential people coming out in support of legalization. Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell, after spending more than 40 years enforcing the law says he would like to see marijuana legalized in Indiana as well.

Whitesell was asked about his position on marijuana prohibition in a budget meeting where he was asked if he felt marijuana should be taxed and regulated according to reports from radio station WFPL.

Whitesell said in response:

“It’s here, it’s going to stay, there’s an awful lot of victimization that goes with it. If it were up to me, I do believe I would legalize it and tax it, particularly in sight of the fact that several other states have now come to that part of their legal system as well.Wherein if you are going to imbibe, you would go through there to be recognized or pay your taxes and keep some sense of it, give us some stats so you could monitor it in some fashion. And if you go around it in some other place, that’s where my folks would come in and take issue.”

Persistent rumors have been floating around the Indiana State House that legislators are going to take up the issue of medical marijuana in their current session. While the issue of medical marijuana and legalizing for recreational use tend to not be discussed in the same context, States that legalize for medical use show the Federal Government that, at the very least, they are willing to take a look at the issue and rule in favor of common sense.

Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic by the Federal Government, lumping it in with Heroin and LSD as having no acceptable medical use. Doctors and researchers from across the political spectrum have shown that there are plenty of medical issues which justify treatment with marijuana. This position is endorsed by the American Medical Association. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia.

Do you think that marijuana should be legalized and taxed?

Share this article: Indiana State Police Chief Say He Would Legalize And Tax Pot
More from Inquisitr