Legalize and Tax Delta 8! Boost economy and consumer safety!

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of Indiana who supports the legalization and regulation of Delta 8, a natural cannabinoid found in hemp plants. Delta 8 has many potential benefits for health and wellness, such as reducing stress, pain, nausea, and anxiety, without causing severe side effects or addiction. However, Delta 8 is currently illegal in Indiana, following the Attorney General's guidance that it is prohibited under the state's controlled substances law. This guidance has caused confusion, and has prompted a lawsuit from the Indiana Hemp Industries Association. I urge you to support the legalization and regulation of Delta 8 in Indiana, rather than criminalizing it and depriving the state of a valuable source of revenue and jobs. One possible model for regulating Delta 8 is the tax structure that Colorado has implemented for retail marijuana. This tax structure has generated over $1.6 billion in total revenue for Colorado since 2014, which has been used to fund various public programs. By adopting a similar tax structure for Delta 8, Indiana could also benefit from increased revenue and economic activity, while ensuring that Delta 8 products are safe, tested, and labeled. Legalizing and regulating Delta 8 would also protect the rights and interests of consumers, retailers, and producers who are currently operating in a gray market with no clear rules or oversight. Moreover, legalizing and regulating Delta 8 could provide an opportunity for Indiana to study the effects of legalizing actual Delta 9 products and marijuana in the state. According to a report by the Cato Institute, states that have legalized marijuana have not experienced significant increases in marijuana use, crime, traffic fatalities, or other negative consequences. On the contrary, legalizing marijuana could reduce the costs and harms associated with prohibition, such as arrests, incarceration, racial disparities, and violence. Legalizing marijuana could also create new jobs, businesses, and industries in Indiana, as well as reduce the black market and the involvement of criminal organizations. Furthermore, legalizing and regulating Delta 8 could enable Indiana to use the excess tax revenue for education and infrastructure, internet security, and other public goods. For example, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal program that offers eligible households a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The ACP helps low-income families access the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, the ACP is expected to end soon unless Congress provides additional funding. By legalizing and taxing Delta 8, Indiana could create its own state-level program to provide internet access to disadvantaged communities and individuals, as well as support other initiatives that improve the quality of life for Hoosiers!