Indiana lawmakers are already making moves to enact drug policy reform in the 2025 session—with newly filed bills to legalize marijuana, allow medical cannabis and fund psilocybin research.
While the prospects of the cannabis measures are unclear given the Republican-controlled legislature’s historic resistance to reform, the psychedelics legislation would simply provide the necessary funding for an already-enacted law promoting psilocybin research.
Senate Bill 113
Sen. Rodney Pol (D) has introduced legislation that would legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes in the state.
The bill would establish a regulatory framework and excise tax for cannabis, while creating an Indiana Cannabis Commission (ICC) and Advisory Committee to oversee the program.
It would also facilitate research into marijuana and provide for the expungement of criminal records for offenses made legal under the reform.
According to a fiscal note from the Legislative Services Agency (LSA), enacting the bill would generate “between $46.6 million and $92.6 million in FY 2026 and $50.8 million and $101.7 million in FY 2027 from Sales and Excise Taxes and permit fees.”
Despite the GOP-controlled legislature’s history on marijuana policy reform, some suspect the tides might change in 2025. Part of that enthusiasm comes from the fact that Gov.-elect Mike Braun (R) recently said that “it’s probably time” to allow access to therapeutic cannabis.
However—despite a recent survey showing nearly 9 in 10 Indiana adults support legalizing medical marijuana—Republican leaders in the legislature are pushing back on the idea.
“It’s no secret that I am not for this,” Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) said last month. “I don’t have people coming to me with really compelling medical cases as to why it’s so beneficial. And any state that I’ve seen pass medical marijuana is essentially passing recreational marijuana.”
House Speaker Todd Huston (R), meanwhile, doubted any medical benefits associated with marijuana, calling the substance “a deterrent to mental health.” He and others suggested that lawmakers supportive of the reform merely want to boost state revenue.
Meanwhile in Indiana, an organization led by the former head of the state’s Republican Party is pushing lawmakers to adopt what it’s calling “safe and regulated” policies on marijuana.
An interim study group had heard testimony around the possibility of decriminalizing simple cannabis possession last November, but the group did not make any specific recommendations.
House Bill 1332
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Blake Johnson (D), would also establish a regulatory framework for adult-use marijuana, with a Cannabis Commission charged with overseeing the program.
Marijuana would be subject to a 10 percent excise tax, in addition to the state’s 7 percent sales tax.
“Revenue to the state General Fund is estimated to increase between $41.9 M and $82.1 M per year from Sales Taxes” on marijuana, according to a fiscal note. “Also, the bill establishes the nonreverting Cannabis Regulation Fund which could receive between $60.4 M and $118.5 M per year from the Cannabis Excise Tax and permit fee revenue.”
It would also impose new penalties for mislabeling hemp products and selling or transporting cannabis to minors.
House Bill 1145
Under a newly filed bill from Rep. Heath VanNatter (R), it would no longer be a crime to possess up to two ounces of cannabis or grow plants with more than two ounces.
The proposal would also increase the felony threshold for possession, raising it from 30 grams to four ounces.
House Bill 1178
Reps. Jim Lucas (R) and Shane Lindauer (R) introduced legislation to create a medical cannabis program in Indiana for people with “serious medical conditions as determined by their physician.”
The state Department of Health would be responsible for regulating the program.
The legislation would also take steps to prevent “harassment of medical marijuana users by law enforcement officers” and prohibit “cooperation with federal law enforcement officials seeking to enforce federal laws that criminalize the use of marijuana authorized in Indiana,” according to a summary.
House Bill 1166
On the psychedelics front, a new bill from Reps. Justin Moed (D) and Jake Teshka (R) would appropriate a total of $600,000 in the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to support an existing psilocybin research program that was enacted under a bill signed by outgoing Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) last March.
Under the law, the state was tasked with creating a therapeutic psilocybin research fund “for the purpose of providing financial assistance to research institutions in Indiana to study…the use of psilocybin to treat mental health and other medical conditions.”
Any research receiving funding under the legislation will need to include veterans and first responders regarding in the study sample.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
Researchers will need to apply to the state Department of Health to receive funds to study the substance as a treatment for conditions, several of which are specified in the bill as introduced: PTSD “with a focus on treating the disorder in combat veterans and first responders,” anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, chronic pain and migraines.
A state-created study committee had recommended that lawmakers authorize a psilocybin pilot program to research psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health during this year’s legislative session, advising that “the Indiana General Assembly take an approach that strikes a balance between access, research, and prudence.”
Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.
Indiana lawmakers are already making moves to enact drug policy reform in the 2025 session—with newly filed bills to legalize marijuana, allow medical cannabis and fund psilocybin research. While the prospects of the cannabis measures are unclear given the Republican-controlled legislature’s historic resistance to reform, the psychedelics legislation would simply provide the necessary funding for Read More
