INDIANAPOLIS -- Marijuana legalization is back on the table at the Indiana Statehouse after two bills were filed that could change how the state treats cannabis during the 2026 legislative session. The renewed debate follows an executive order signed last month by President Donald Trump reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug under federal law, removing a key argument Indiana lawmakers have long used to oppose legalization.
One proposal, House Bill 1191 by Rep. Mitch Gore, would decriminalize possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, effectively allowing recreational use by eliminating criminal penalties for low-level possession.
A second bill, House Bill 1298 by Rep. Jim Lucas, would reclassify cannabis under Indiana law to match the federal change, potentially expanding access but likely limiting use to medical purposes with a prescription.
Neither bill includes a framework to regulate marijuana sales or production, unlike laws passed in neighboring states. Both measures now sit in the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code, with no hearings scheduled. With surrounding states moving ahead on legalization, pressure is building on Indiana lawmakers, though it remains unclear whether the federal shift will be enough to move either bill forward.