Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday said his stance on marijuana had not changed ahead of the drug’s expected reclassification.

Indiana is among 12 states that have not legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. Neighboring Illinois, Michigan and Ohio are among the 24 states that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana use. Kentucky is one of 14 states allowing the drug for medical use only.

Republican leaders and Holcomb, who previously said he used marijuana, have opposed the drug’s legalization in Indiana, arguing the federal government must act first.

Asked about the possibility of medical marijuana becoming legal in Indiana, Holcomb told reporters: “I have sworn an oath of office to uphold our state laws, and I’ve done it before for the nation, and up until that day my position will remain as it is.”

The Department of Justice is expected to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug — seen as having no accepted medical use — to a Schedule III controlled substance, which would acknowledge its medicinal value. A proposed rule was submitted in May and is undergoing a 60-day public comment period. The reclassification, however, would not affect federal criminal law concerning marijuana.

“It needs to be studied,” Holcomb said. “I need to see conclusive evidence in terms of medical applications, like Robitussin or cough syrup, or any other medicine. But to call marijuana ‘medicine’ just out of opinion doesn’t convince me.”

Aiming to succeed the term-limited Holcomb, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, previously said he might support medical use of marijuana but not recreational use.

“It’s gonna hit all of us. I’m gonna listen to law enforcement — they have to put up with the brunt of it,” Braun said. “Medical marijuana is where I think the case is best made that maybe something needs to change. But I’ll take my cue from law enforcement there as well. … I hear a lot of input where [medical marijuana is] helpful, and I think that you need to listen and see what makes sense.”

Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, believes legalizing medical marijuana “would be the first step and carries the benefit of providing doctors one more option for treating suffering patients,” according to her campaign website.

Contact Jarred Meeks on X @jarredsmeeks or email him at [email protected].