Dispensary billboards in Indiana could soon disappear or become more sparse.
Indiana lawmakers are considering two bills, one that would make promoting marijuana products illegal across the state and another enforcing strict restrictions.
The proposed legislation comes as Indiana remains one of the few states against the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana.
Like many border regions, Northern Indiana is in a unique position.
As we straddle Indiana’s strict marijuana laws and have Michigan dispensaries just miles away, the bills being discussed aim to curb the influence of marijuana, especially on the youth.
Bustling dispensaries on one side, and an arrest for possession on the other.
The Michigan-Indiana state line is a slim tightrope when it comes to marijuana, and now two proposed bills are heating up the conversation.
Senate Bill 166, spearheaded by Indiana Senator Spencer Deery (R), proposes a complete ban on marijuana advertising statewide.
That means no more cannabis billboards on your commute or pot promotions in the mailbox.
The State Senator says there is more behind the advertising that needs to be addressed.
“But then there’s another layer to this that I learned as well, is we’re actually behind states where this, where the product is legal because, in those states, they’ve established regulations for the advertising of these products, just like we do with cigarettes and alcohol,” said Deery.
This is where House Bill 1026 comes into play.
Authored by Representative Joanna King of Middlebury, the bill zeroes in on protecting sensitive spaces, aiming to prohibit marijuana ads within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, playgrounds, and regular school bus routes.
WSBT 22 spoke with a worker at a local dispensary just over the state line who said he doesn’t think the bills -if passed- would have a huge impact.
“I mean, it’s just one of those things that, you know, people love it, and I don’t think they’re going to stop. You know, I definitely think there’s probably more important things we could be worrying about, you know, as a society, instead of being afraid of weed, you know,” said Travis Timm, Green Stem Budtender.
As a reminder, these bills are still in the beginning phases.
You can track both of the bill’s progress:
Track Senate Bill 166: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/166/actionsTrack House Bill 1026: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1026/actions Dispensary billboards in Indiana could soon disappear or become more sparse.Indiana lawmakers are considering two bills, one that would make promoting marijuana Read More
