Indiana may be closer than ever to legalizing marijuana in some form, but the next big fight may not just be whether cannabis becomes legal….It may be how expensive Indiana makes it once it does. Gov. Mike Braun recently said Indiana should not “stick its h - facebook.com

Title: Black Indy LIVE URL Source: https://www.facebook.com/BlackIndyLIVE/posts/indiana-may-be-closer-than-ever-to-legalizing-marijuana-in-some-form-but-the-nex/1670258205102144/ Markdown Content: Log In Log In Forgot Account? ## Black Indy LIVE's Post * * * Online status indicator Active ### **Black Indy LIVE** May 20 · Indiana may be closer than ever to legalizing marijuana in some form, but the next big fight may not just be whether cannabis becomes legal….It may be how expensive Indiana makes it once it does. Gov. Mike Braun recently said Indiana should not “stick its head in the sand” as marijuana laws change around the country. Indiana is now surrounded by states with some form of legal cannabis. Now, Republican State Sen. Mike Bohacek says he is working on a proposal for the 2027 legislative session that would create a state-licensed medical marijuana system in Indiana. A new report commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and conducted by RAND found Hoosiers already spend an estimated $1.8 billion a year on cannabis, with the possible range between $1.2 billion and $2.6 billion. The same report says Indiana has some of the most restrictive cannabis policies in the country, even though nearly all Hoosiers live within 100 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state. That is why many believe legalization in some form is no longer a question of “if,” but “when.” The pressure is coming from every side: tax revenue, medical access, border-state competition, veterans, law enforcement questions and the reality that Hoosiers are already buying cannabis, just not always legally or inside Indiana. But the tax issue could become the real debate. Michigan has been popular with many Indiana cannabis buyers because of lower prices and a simpler tax structure. Michigan’s recreational cannabis tax has been listed as a 10% excise tax, while Illinois uses a more complicated system that can tax products based on THC level, with some products taxed at 10%, 20% or 25%, plus local taxes in some places. Illinois has become one of the most expensive recreational marijuana markets in the Midwest, with Axios reporting that taxes can push costs up to 40% over the sale price. Illinois still generated more than $400 million in recreational marijuana tax revenue in 2023, but the high prices have also helped fuel comparisons to Michigan, where cannabis is often cheaper. [](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1670258175102147&set=a.684868160307825&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=EH-R) All reactions: 818 629 comments 274 shares Like Comment Most relevant [](https://www.facebook.com/BlackIndyLIVE?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzE1MDE1NDMwOTQ3OTg2MDU%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Author Black Indy LIVE That leaves Indiana with a major question: if lawmakers finally legalize medical marijuana, or eventually recreational cannabis, will they build a system that helps patients and keeps money in Indiana, or will they create a high-tax system that still sends Hoosiers across the border? Supporters will likely argue that medical marijuana is a reasonable first step for a conservative state. Critics may argue Indiana is already late and should not overtax a legal market before it even starts. Either way, 2027 is shaping up to be the most serious marijuana debate Indiana has ever had. Question for Hoosiers: Would you support Indiana legalizing medical marijuana first, even if the taxes end up higher than Michigan or Illinois? * 20w 49 View all 22 replies [](https://www.facebook.com/cay.howat?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzEyMzQ4MzEzNjE4ODMwMTg%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Cay Howat It's ok I'll still buy from Michigan but won't have to drive the speed limit otw home * 20w 14 View all 9 replies [](https://www.facebook.com/travis.jackson.142687?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0Xzc5NTcyMjU1MzQ3MjU3Nw%3D%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Travis Jackson Go for it, it'll happen the same way as cigarettes. Drive to a neighboring state where it's cheaper tax either way, if it's legal, I'll probably just grow my own ultimately, I'd like to become a grower for dispensary or chain turning the rundown family farm into a functioning business. * 20w 80 View all 13 replies Derek Cloar Taxes won't be high. Indiana has massive surplus and doesn't need extra tax money from weed. Standard sales tax is sufficient. It's base pricing that will determine if it's affordable or not. Prohibition placed an unjust value upon the plant. Some states strive to maintain the inflated value, some don't. Michigan will likely give Indiana producers serious competition for quite some time. * 20w 50 View all 30 replies Eric Litts If indiana is going to do this, be smart about how its regulated. One must make it fair for the producer, fair for the consumer, and prudent for taxes. If the state tries to gouge us, then it will stay in the black market. 10% flat tax is fair. Not overburdensome, and similar to the the tax applied on alchohol. * 20w 21 [](https://www.facebook.com/pete.oliva.75?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzIzOTA2ODUxMDgwOTU1NzQ%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Pete Oliva Just legalize it recreational like our neighbors to the north and watch the money roll in. If you over tax it people will still buy out of state * 20w 40 Lorie Voltz Probably. Just legalize it and let us grow up to 11 plants per household. * 20w 55 View all 8 replies Susan Hays-Haley If they would legalize it all the way around. Then tax it like Michigan at a flat 10% rate. Then we would have consumers from coming in from Ohio Kentucky and Illinois. Providing more tax revenue for the state to spend * 20w 7 [](https://www.facebook.com/dan.frank.5872?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzQ0NTIyMTc3NjQ5MjUwODE%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Dan Frank Yes but data centers will be exempt from weed taxes * 20w 4 View all 3 replies Lance Ligon As soon as it’s legalized I’ll be there to settle my possession of weed case back in 2019 * 20w 5 View more comments 10 of 409 All reactions: 818 629 comments 274 shares Like Comment Most relevant [](https://www.facebook.com/BlackIndyLIVE?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzE1MDE1NDMwOTQ3OTg2MDU%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Author Black Indy LIVE That leaves Indiana with a major question: if lawmakers finally legalize medical marijuana, or eventually recreational cannabis, will they build a system that helps patients and keeps money in Indiana, or will they create a high-tax system that still sends Hoosiers across the border? Supporters will likely argue that medical marijuana is a reasonable first step for a conservative state. Critics may argue Indiana is already late and should not overtax a legal market before it even starts. Either way, 2027 is shaping up to be the most serious marijuana debate Indiana has ever had. Question for Hoosiers: Would you support Indiana legalizing medical marijuana first, even if the taxes end up higher than Michigan or Illinois? * 20w 49 View all 22 replies [](https://www.facebook.com/cay.howat?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzEyMzQ4MzEzNjE4ODMwMTg%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Cay Howat It's ok I'll still buy from Michigan but won't have to drive the speed limit otw home * 20w 14 View all 9 replies [](https://www.facebook.com/travis.jackson.142687?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0Xzc5NTcyMjU1MzQ3MjU3Nw%3D%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Travis Jackson Go for it, it'll happen the same way as cigarettes. Drive to a neighboring state where it's cheaper tax either way, if it's legal, I'll probably just grow my own ultimately, I'd like to become a grower for dispensary or chain turning the rundown family farm into a functioning business. * 20w 80 View all 13 replies Derek Cloar Taxes won't be high. Indiana has massive surplus and doesn't need extra tax money from weed. Standard sales tax is sufficient. It's base pricing that will determine if it's affordable or not. Prohibition placed an unjust value upon the plant. Some states strive to maintain the inflated value, some don't. Michigan will likely give Indiana producers serious competition for quite some time. * 20w 50 View all 30 replies Eric Litts If indiana is going to do this, be smart about how its regulated. One must make it fair for the producer, fair for the consumer, and prudent for taxes. If the state tries to gouge us, then it will stay in the black market. 10% flat tax is fair. Not overburdensome, and similar to the the tax applied on alchohol. * 20w 21 [](https://www.facebook.com/pete.oliva.75?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzIzOTA2ODUxMDgwOTU1NzQ%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Pete Oliva Just legalize it recreational like our neighbors to the north and watch the money roll in. If you over tax it people will still buy out of state * 20w 40 Lorie Voltz Probably. Just legalize it and let us grow up to 11 plants per household. * 20w 55 View all 8 replies Susan Hays-Haley If they would legalize it all the way around. Then tax it like Michigan at a flat 10% rate. Then we would have consumers from coming in from Ohio Kentucky and Illinois. Providing more tax revenue for the state to spend * 20w 7 [](https://www.facebook.com/dan.frank.5872?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoxNjcwMjU4MjA1MTAyMTQ0XzQ0NTIyMTc3NjQ5MjUwODE%3D&__cft__[0]=AZjZFFarj4o5aaE8rzAPe4RfABfF6Ch0EUwBF8KiyWTYorDwTk7p8V2ioec4KQs3oNAJFVSKQ5Sp5nxExmLJXSjFxicHoKz_nqmLlWsfqmLjWLWXwGOn23Z1SF3wPQtaP36FxgVv1dxn6zbOacI2Wv-uSjnhCPvy&__tn__=R]-R) Dan Frank Yes but data centers will be exempt from weed taxes * 20w 4 View all 3 replies Lance Ligon As soon as it’s legalized I’ll be there to settle my possession of weed case back in 2019 * 20w 5 View more comments 10 of 409