Indiana: GOP Lawmaker Reveals Early Plan To Legalize Medical Marijuana For 2027 Session

Indiana State Senator Mike Bohacek is working on preparing an early legislation for the 2027 session that would legalize medical cannabis in the Hoosier State.

Bohacek said in a press release issued on Monday that a “feasible marijuana policy that would be the most helpful to Hoosiers and the economy” needs to be taken into consideration.

“The use of medical marijuana has been proven to be beneficial for some medical disorders and could help people throughout the state who are suffering find some relief,” Bohacek continued.

The proposal from a Republican legislator comes amid shifting federal and state attitudes. The Trump administration officially moved to reclassify cannabis, shifting it from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act in late April. That was followed by Indiana Governor Mike Braun expressing recently a willingness to do “what makes sense,” as neighbouring states have already implemented some form of cannabis legalization, reported WFYI. 

Bohacek’s draft plan would propose a tightly regulated medical framework with established rules for medical eligibility and distribution, and set tax policies for sales, he said. The legislation would also address impairment laws, including defining THC blood concentration limits and training law enforcement to identify impairment. It would not, however, address legalization of recreational cannabis.

“Many of our state’s current laws regarding the use of marijuana would remain in place, with some adjustments to account for those who may have medical exemptions,” Bohacek explained. “This is why I am also working on legislation that would adjust the state impairment laws for those who would use medical marijuana.”

The Background

 In the meantime, Indiana remains one of the last bastions of strict cannabis laws.

Early efforts by Democratic lawmakers in 2015 to introduce medical cannabis policy change failed to gain traction.

In 2017, Indiana lawmakers passed a low-THC medical cannabis program in the state that allowed for CBD oil but only for patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy. A year later, lawmakers made access to CBD oil broader, requiring it to contain less than 0.3% THC. This move didn’t legalize medical cannabis.

In the period from 2018 to 2025, Indiana lawmakers introduced numerous medical and recreational marijuana bills, but they were consistently stalled or blocked by legislative leadership.

According to cannabis advocates, 2026 won’t be the year marijuana legalization will take place, as state lawmakers are pushing measures to strengthen regulations on delta-8 THC products and to restrict advertising for marijuana dispensaries located in nearby states.