By DARREN REESE
Guest Columnist
For years, Indiana lawmakers have said cannabis policy was not ready for serious consideration. That position is no longer credible.
Just before Christmas, President Donald Trump directed the federal government to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, formally recognizing its accepted medical use while preserving states’ full authority to regulate it. This was not a cultural gesture. It was a regulatory decision rooted in reality.
Now Indiana faces a choice: continue pretending cannabis does not exist or do what government is supposed to do: set clear rules, enforce standards, and protect the public.
The status quo is not conservative, and it is not safe
Cannabis is illegal in Indiana, but it is widely available. Hoosiers either buy tested, regulated products in neighboring states or turn to an unregulated market at home with no testing, no labeling, and no accountability.
That is not public safety. It is an abdication.
Forty states allow medical cannabis. Nearly half regulate adult use. Indiana’s refusal to act has not stopped cannabis, it has simply surrendered oversight. Doing nothing is not a middle ground. It is the least regulated option available.
Indiana knows how to regulate
This debate is often framed as radical change. It is not. Indiana already regulates alcohol, prescription drugs, gaming, and other controlled products because prohibition without enforcement creates chaos.
Recent General Assembly sessions have shown lawmakers understand this. Proposed cannabis legislation focused on physician oversight, controlled access, product testing, and enforcement authority – core principles of responsible regulation. Those efforts demonstrated that Indiana can design a system that reflects Hoosier values: cautious, orderly, and focused on safety rather than promotion.
Regulation is not endorsement
A safe and regulated market does not encourage use. It acknowledges reality and replaces disorder with structure.
A responsible path forward starts with a tightly regulated medical program: physician certification, defined qualifying conditions, independent lab testing, secure packaging, strict advertising limits, and strong enforcement. For lawmakers not yet ready to address adult-use cannabis, regulation still offers a clear, phased path forward – one written into law, with benchmarks and legislative oversight.
Leaving cannabis unregulated is not restraint. It is neglect.
A moment Indiana should not miss
Cannabis regulation is not a culture war. It is a governance question; one Hoosiers increasingly expect their leaders to address with seriousness and discipline. President Trump’s action removed the last excuse for inaction. Cannabis now has a clear federal regulatory framework. Indiana has the authority – and the responsibility – to respond.
Hoosiers deserve clear rules, strong enforcement, and policies grounded in reality. The 2026 legislative session is an opportunity for Indiana to move from denial to regulation, from slogans to solutions, and from “no” to responsible leadership.
It is time for Indiana to act.
Darren Reese is the Republican Party Chair for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District.
I totally agree. I moved here from south Dakota i was on medical Marijuana there and my health stabilized I moved to Indiana to be closer to family and with out my health is quickly declining i shouldn’t have to move away from my family to live a somewhat stable life
Indiana needs get their heads out of their ass & change marijuana law like 40 other states. Screw the law I go to Michigan & buy. Dumb ass Indiana losing millions of tax dollars to other states.
Look at all the people that would not face jail time or huge fines if marijuana were legalized here in Indiana, the jails wouldn’t be over crowded and you could tax the crap out of it. You already highly tax cigarettes, why not legalize marijuana and tax it as well, people are willing to pay the price. All the states around us are making money because Indiana residents are going there to buy their weed. Get with the times Indiana.