INDIANAPOLIS – The saga over a marijuana-derived oil continued Wednesday when a Democrat mayor told GOP Attorney General Curtis Hill he was "grandstanding" on the issue during a legislative preview conference session.
Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said he orders cannabidiol, also known as CBD, online and it is shipped to his house to help his dog. CBD can be used as medicine for treating people with epilepsy.
McDermott told Hill – a panelist at the Bingham Greenebaum Doll Legislative Conference - that lawmakers support its limited use.
"I find the whole thing funny," McDermott said.
Hill replied sternly, "haha" and then told the mayor if he is in possession of CBD oil he is breaking Indiana law.
"You, not your dog," he said.
Hill recently issued an advisory opinion finding that substances containing CBD are illegal to possess, make and sell under state and federal law. The exception is CBD products that can be used by people with epilepsy who are on a new state registry.
As a result, Gov. Eric Holcomb has directed state excise police to resume checking stores for marijuana-derived oils.
"Only upon showing that one meets the limited conditions under Indiana law could one expect to avoid being prosecuted under Indiana law," Hill said.
His non-binding advisory opinion leaves unclear how patients on that registry would be able to obtain CBD since it would be illegal to sell it in Indiana.
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