Overview & Legal Status
Indiana does not have a medical cannabis programme or adult-use legalisation. All marijuana possession, sale, and cultivation remain criminal offences under I.C. § 35-48-4-11. Indiana does permit hemp-derived CBD products under its hemp programme (I.C. § 15-15-13).
Regulatory Framework
- Hemp Grower/Processor Licence: Indiana Dept. of Agriculture — hemp (≤0.3% THC) cultivation and processing only
- No Cannabis Licences: Indiana issues no medical or adult-use cannabis licences
Licensing
Available Licence Types
- Cultivator / Grower Licence — commercial cannabis/hemp cultivation; canopy and operational requirements set by state regulator
- Background checks and financial requirements mandatory for all principals
- Local zoning approval typically required in addition to state licence
- Processor / Manufacturer Licence — production of extracts, edibles, capsules, topicals, and other cannabis-derived products
- Dispensary / Retail Licence (Medical) — sale of cannabis products to registered patients
- Minimum distance from schools, daycares, and youth facilities required
- State licence + local approval typically required
- Adult-Use Retail Licence — not available — adult-use illegal in this state
- Delivery Licence — patient home delivery; availability varies
- Testing Laboratory Licence — independent ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory
- Hemp / Industrial Hemp Licence — cultivation and processing of hemp (≤0.3% THC) under USDA-approved state plan
- Hemp Grower/Processor Licence — Indiana Dept. of Agriculture — hemp (≤0.3% THC) cultivation and processing only
- No Cannabis Licences — Indiana issues no medical or adult-use cannabis licences
Taxation
Cannabis TaxN/A — cannabis fully illegal; no tax framework
Cannabis Tax
N/A
No legal cannabis market
Hemp/CBD Retail
7%
Indiana state sales tax
Adult-Use (proposed)
N/A
No legislation
Medical Tax
N/A
No programme
Consumer & Business Implications
- Indiana has no cannabis excise or sales tax framework — cannabis is fully illegal
- Hemp-derived CBD sold in retail subject to Indiana's 7% state sales tax
- No local cannabis tax authority
Advertising
Advertising Regulations
- Targeting minors strictly prohibited: No advertising where >30% of audience is under 21; no cartoons, toys, candy imagery
- No advertising within 500–1,000 ft of schools, daycares, playgrounds (varies by state)
- Required disclaimers on all advertising: 'For medical/adult use only. Keep out of reach of children.' Licence number required.
- Social media & digital: Age-gating required; audience verification; no general public targeting
- Platforms (Google, Meta) restrict cannabis ads; use compliant cannabis-specific ad networks
- No false health claims — unsubstantiated efficacy or medical benefit claims prohibited
- All cannabis advertising is effectively prohibited — no legal market exists
- Hemp/CBD advertising must comply with FTC and Indiana Consumer Protection rules
Workplace Rules
Employee Rights & Employer Obligations
- No employment protections for cannabis users — Indiana law does not recognise any cannabis use as protected
- Employers freely enforce drug-free workplace policies; positive cannabis test is grounds for termination
- Indiana Code § 22-9-5 — does not extend disability protection to illegal drug use
- Safety-sensitive positions always exempt — employers may enforce zero-tolerance for CDL drivers, heavy equipment operators, healthcare workers
- DOT-regulated employees subject to federal testing requirements regardless of state law
- On-duty impairment is never protected — all states allow prohibition of cannabis use during work hours
- Federal contractors must comply with Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.)
Possession & Transactions
Legal Possession Limit0 — all marijuana possession is illegal
0
Cannabis — fully illegal
≤0.3% THC
Hemp/CBD only
N/A
No medical programme
7%
Hemp sales tax
Medical Patient Possession
- Indiana has no medical cannabis programme — no registry, no dispensaries, no patient cards
Adult-Use Possession
- Any marijuana possession is illegal in Indiana regardless of amount
- First offence possession (any amount): Class B Misdemeanour — up to 180 days, $1,000 fine
- Prior conviction: enhanced to Class A Misdemeanour or Level 6 Felony
Transaction Rules
- No legal cannabis transactions of any kind
- Hemp/CBD may be purchased in retail — standard age verification applies
- Identification required for hemp CBD products in many stores
Product Testing
Testing Requirements
- Mandatory potency testing: Total THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA — all products before sale
- Contaminant testing: Pesticides, heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Hg), microbials (E. coli, Salmonella, Aspergillus), mycotoxins, residual solvents
- Approved laboratories: State-licensed, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited; independent of producers and retailers
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) must accompany each batch; accessible to patients/consumers on request
- No cannabis product testing framework — no legal products
- Hemp products tested for THC compliance (≤0.3%) by Indiana Dept. of Agriculture
Medical Cannabis Programme
Qualifying Medical Conditions
- Indiana has no qualifying medical conditions — there is no medical cannabis programme
- Bills to establish a medical programme have been introduced but not enacted as of 2026
Medical CannabisNot available — no programme in Indiana
Programme Rules & Prescription Duration
- No medical cannabis programme exists in Indiana
- Patients seeking medical cannabis must access neighbouring states' programmes (where they qualify and remain within that state)
- No out-of-state medical card recognition
Adult-Use Cannabis
Adult-use cannabis is fully illegal in Indiana. Indiana has one of the most restrictive cannabis legal frameworks in the Midwest. No decriminalisation law exists at state level.
Differences from Medical Use
- No adult-use or medical cannabis is legal — both are fully illegal
- Hemp (≤0.3% THC) products are legal and widely available in retail
- No purchase limits or tax framework for cannabis exists
Local Ordinances
- No Indiana municipalities have enacted cannabis decriminalisation ordinances
- Local zoning rules would govern any future dispensary locations if ever legalised
- Legislative outlook: incremental hemp expansion possible; full legalisation not imminent
Penalties
Possession Offences
- Any amount — first offence: Class B Misdemeanour — up to 180 days, $1,000 fine
- Any amount — prior conviction: Class A Misdemeanour — up to 1 year, $5,000 fine
- Possession near school/youth centre: Enhanced to Level 6 Felony
Sale & Distribution
- Dealing marijuana (any amount): Level 6 Felony — 6 months to 2.5 years
- Large-scale dealing (≥30 g): Level 5 Felony — 1–6 years
- Near school or to minors: Level 4 Felony — 2–12 years
DUID — Driving Under Influence of Cannabis
- Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal in all states
- First offence: typically misdemeanour — fines, possible jail, licence suspension, substance abuse programme
- Repeat offences: enhanced penalties; possible felony in some states
⚠️ Adult-Use Cannabis — Important Warnings
- Adult-use cannabis is NOT legal in Indiana. Possession, sale, and cultivation outside the medical programme remains a criminal offence.
- Medical cannabis patients must carry their state-issued registry card at all times when possessing cannabis.
- Cannabis cannot be transported across state lines — this is a federal offence regardless of destination state laws.
- Do not drive or operate machinery while impaired by cannabis — DUID laws are strictly enforced.
- Airports operate under federal jurisdiction — carrying cannabis through airports is prohibited.
- Cannabis is prohibited on all federal lands (national parks, forests, federal buildings).
- Keep all cannabis and CBD products out of reach of children and pets.
- Cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is strongly discouraged by health authorities.
🚨 Legal Disclaimer
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Cannabis laws in Indiana change frequently — always verify current statutes with official Indiana government sources or consult a qualified attorney licensed in Indiana.
- Information reflects laws known as of March 15, 2026 — subject to legislative change.
- Local city and county ordinances may impose additional restrictions beyond state law.
- Federal law supersedes state law in all federal jurisdictions and employment contexts.
- CannBus accepts no liability for actions taken based on information on this page.
📚 References & Sources
- Indiana Code § 35-48-4-11 — Possession of Marijuana/Hash
- Indiana Code § 15-15-13 — Indiana Hemp Programme
- Indiana State Dept. of Agriculture Hemp — in.gov/isda
- Document date: March 15, 2026 · Cannabis Laws · www.cannbus.org
📅 Document last reviewed: March 15, 2026 ·
Cannabis Laws · www.cannbus.org