Indiana Marijuana Laws
Buying, selling or possessing marijuana is a crime in Indiana, where possession starts as a Class B misdemeanor and rises with a prior drug conviction. Indiana has no medical or adult-use marijuana program, and this guide sets out what Indiana law says about the use and possession of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.
Is Marijuana Legal in Indiana?
No. Under current state law, cannabis in Indiana is illegal for any recreational or medical purpose, with one exception: low THC hemp extract, with no more than 0.3% total delta-9 THC.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal?
No, medical marijuana is not currently legal in Indiana. There have been efforts to push through Indiana medical marijuana laws in recent years, but these efforts have been unsuccessful so far. For example, Senate Bill 284, a 2015 medical marijuana bill, was referred to committee on January 8, 2015. It went no further. Therefore, no one in Indiana has a legal route to medical marijuana; hemp extract is legal, but it is not medical marijuana.
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal?
No, recreational marijuana use is illegal in Indiana. Again, the one exception is hemp extract; in March 2018 the governor signed Senate Enrolled Act 52, which allows low THC hemp extract with no more than 0.3% total THC for any purpose.
When Will Medical Cannabis Be Available in Indiana?
No date is set: every effort to legalize medical cannabis in Indiana has failed so far, and nobody can say when the law will change. In 2026, lawmakers filed SB 286 for medical and adult-use cannabis and HB 1191 to decriminalize up to two ounces, and both died in committee. The 2026 bills would have to be filed again in a future session, and every medical bill since SB 284 in 2015 has died.
Indiana Marijuana Laws on Possession, Sale and Growing
This section covers what Indiana marijuana law says about possessing, buying, selling and growing marijuana, and where hemp extract fits.
Possession & Purchase
It is illegal to buy, sell, or possess marijuana in the state of Indiana. Those found with any amount can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor under IC 35-48-4-11, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. With a prior drug conviction, or when the marijuana is packaged to look like low THC hemp extract and the person knew or should have known it, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor; with a prior conviction and 30 grams or more, it is a Level 6 felony. The only exception is low THC hemp extract with no more than 0.3% total THC, which is legal for any use in Indiana.
How Much Can I Buy and Possess?
You cannot buy or possess any amount of marijuana in Indiana. Even small amounts are not allowed. However, Indiana sets no quantity limit on low THC hemp extract with no more than 0.3% total THC.
Where Can I Obtain Cannabis?
You cannot obtain marijuana legally in any way in Indiana. What state law does allow is low THC hemp extract, sold only in packaging with a bar or QR code linked to its certificate of analysis.
Who Can Legally Purchase Cannabis in Indiana?
Nobody is allowed to purchase marijuana in Indiana. However, bills to limit who may buy low THC hemp extract, such as SB 138 in 2025, have not become law.
Home Cultivation
Cultivation of marijuana is illegal in Indiana: growing it is charged as possession under IC 35-48-4-11, a Class B misdemeanor without a prior drug conviction.
Reciprocity
Indiana does not recognize medical marijuana cards from other states, so a visitor’s card is no defense to a possession charge.
Consumption
Indiana law allows no recreational or medical use of marijuana; low THC hemp extract is the legal exception.
Where Can I Safely Consume Cannabis?
It is illegal to possess marijuana anywhere in Indiana, public or private, so there is no place to consume it lawfully.
Qualifying Patients
Indiana has no qualifying patients, because it has no medical marijuana card program and no list of qualifying conditions. In states with programs, a patient usually needs a diagnosed condition on the state’s list. In Indiana, even a cancer diagnosis gives no legal access to marijuana.
Are Edibles Legal in Indiana?
Marijuana edibles are not legal in Indiana. Indiana’s definition of low THC hemp extract does not exclude edible forms, so a hemp extract edible with no more than 0.3% total THC is not marijuana under state law. SB 286 in 2026 would have gone further, but it died in committee.
How to Obtain a Medical Card?
If you’re looking for an Indiana medical marijuana card, it’s not yet possible to obtain one. Indiana has not legalized medical marijuana, and every medical bill filed so far, including four in 2025, has died, so there is no card program at this time.
Overall, Indiana treats any amount of marijuana as a crime, not a civil fine, although a first offender who pleads guilty may qualify for conditional discharge, which lets the court dismiss the charge (IC 35-48-4-12). To track any change, the General Assembly posts the status of every bill on iga.in.gov.
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