US Republican State Senator to File Medical Marijuana Bill for 2027 Session, Citing Federal Rescheduling and Governor's Openness

Indiana Republican state Sen. Mike Bohacek announced Monday he will file medical marijuana legislation for the 2027 session, citing Gov. Mike Braun's openness to reform and the Trump administration's federal cannabis rescheduling. "In light of the governor's openness to consider legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana, we need to consider a feasible marijuana policy that would be the most helpful to Hoosiers and the economy," Bohacek said. "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." The bill would limit distribution to licensed Hoosier healthcare professionals, establish a blood THC concentration threshold defining impairment, and create law enforcement training to identify impaired individuals. Recreational marijuana would remain prohibited. Bohacek said Indiana's existing delta-8 THC market makes a broader cannabis tax policy "a logical next step," with potential for millions of dollars in annual state revenue. Acting U.S. Attorney General Blanche last month signed an order moving state-licensed medical cannabis and FDA-approved marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Braun subsequently said the state is "more likely" to act and directed officials to meet with medical marijuana advocates. Braun has noted that Indiana is "surrounded now by four states" with legal cannabis — Kentucky (medical), Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio (recreational) — and that "over half of Hoosiers probably smoke it illegally." In March he acknowledged GOP legislative leaders are "not interested in doing anything soon." Legalization was set aside for 2026, and a hemp THC ban push failed in February. Last month U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) urged Braun to "maintain the state's prohibitions on marijuana use." Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) said in late 2024: "It's no secret that I am not for this. 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) called marijuana "a deterrent to mental health." Ball State University's Bowen Center Hoosier Survey found 59 percent of Indiana residents support both medical and recreational legalization, with another 25 percent favoring medical-only access — 84 percent total in favor of medical marijuana. A separate poll found 87 percent of Indiana adults support legalization.