STATEHOUSE (Jan. 27, 2016) — State Sen. R. Michael Young’s (R-Indianapolis) bill that would increase prosecutors’ ability to charge drug offenders as dealers recently passed the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law by a vote of 7 – 2.
Current Indiana law states that the amount of drugs in a person’s possession alone does not provide enough evidence to charge the person as a drug dealer. Under Senate Bill 290, a person with at least 28 grams of scheduled drugs such as meth, cocaine, and other narcotics, could be charged as a dealer. The bill would also put new limitations on other drugs such as marijuana and hash oil.
“Our state is undergoing a drug abuse epidemic – prescription drugs, meth and heroin are destroying families, communities, and individuals,” Young said. “This bill goes after those people transporting these drugs and trying to get our kids addicted.”
The bill will now move to the full Senate for further consideration.
