Despite a record number of marijuana-related bills introduced by both Republicans and Democrats in Indiana’s legislative session, all attempts to legalize or decriminalize the drug have failed.
The Republican-led coalition Safe and Regulated Indiana had championed a key bill that, according to an LSA fiscal analysis, could have generated up to $200 million in new state revenue by 2026. However, that effort collapsed, along with a historic decriminalization bill that stalled in committee.
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R) dismissed the notion of legalizing marijuana for financial gain, stating, “I don’t believe in doing policy based upon revenue. I think you do good public policy and you deal with the revenue, and that’s the way I feel about the marijuana issue.”
Despite these setbacks, supporters of legalization remain hopeful. Coalition leader Elsener noted that 30,000 people have joined their effort in just four months. “Obviously, we’re not getting what we want this legislative session, but I’m really excited about the progress,” he said.
One bill that did pass set a THC threshold to determine whether a driver is under the influence—a move seen as a small but significant step in the broader marijuana policy debate.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D) pledged to keep pushing for medical marijuana, particularly given Governor Braun’s stated openness to its legalization. “We’ll keep trying,” GiaQuinta said. “There’s an amendment process, too… if there’s an opportunity, we’ll do that because our caucus is in full support of that.”
For now, Indiana remains among the states that have resisted both recreational and medical marijuana legalization, even as much of the country moves in the opposite direction.
