INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A state senator says she plans to push for the legalization of medicinal marijuana in Indiana. 

Democratic Sen. Karen Tallian of Portage says she'll introduce a bill for the upcoming legislative session to allow people with certain health problems to legally use marijuana. Tallian has filed bills in recent years to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, but those proposals have failed to advance.

Tallian says she believes the public is becoming more accepting of allowing the use of medical marijuana.

She says Congress lifted a major obstacle last week by preventing the Justice Department from using federal money to prosecute medical marijuana patients or distributors who are following their states' laws.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says 23 states have laws allowing medical marijuana.