Indiana Residents Voice Strong Support for Medical and Recreational Cannabis Legalization

INDIANAPOLIS – A recent survey of Hoosier voters indicates broad agreement on expanding access to Cannabis, with 84% in favor of medical use and 59% supporting recreational legalization.

The findings, drawn from the 2025 Hoosier Survey conducted by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University, reflect responses from 600 Indiana residents queried on key policy matters. Of those polled, 59% endorsed Cannabis for both medical and adult-use purposes, while an additional 25% backed medical-only provisions. Opposition remains limited, with under 20% against any form of legalization.

Andrew Bauman, executive director of the Bowen Center, highlighted the data’s implications during an interview with Inside Indiana Business reporters. “In the last year or two, you’ve seen almost exponential growth in support, and then non-traditional support, and by that, I mean business leaders [and] parents – not your traditional college-age kid or high school person,” Bauman said. This broadening base suggests Cannabis reform has moved beyond niche advocacy, aligning with priorities like job creation and healthcare affordability that topped the survey’s concerns.

The release coincides with fresh legislative activity in the Statehouse. Days earlier, Democratic Rep. Mitch Gore introduced a measure [HB 1191] to permit limited personal possession and home cultivation of Cannabis, one of several bills advancing reform options for the 2026 session. Separate proposals, including Senate Bill 286 from Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., aim to establish licensed sales for adults 21-plus. These efforts come as Indiana’s Republican governor, Mike Braun, has signaled openness to medical Cannabis, noting last year that “it’s probably time” for therapeutic access, a position he reiterated amid federal moves to reschedule Cannabis under President Trump’s executive order.

Despite resistance among some GOP leaders, critics of the status quo point to economic parallels in neighboring states like Illinois and Michigan, where regulated markets have generated billions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs since 2019. Indiana’s poll numbers track this regional trend and underscore a pragmatic voter calculus: balancing public health needs against enforcement costs estimated at $100 million annually for the state. With federal rescheduling now underway, analysts see reduced barriers for states like Indiana to craft tailored frameworks, potentially yielding $170-200 million in yearly fiscal gains if recreational sales launch.

For the Cannabis sector, these signals point to a measured path forward. Lawmakers face a clear mandate to address medical access first, where consensus runs deepest, before tackling adult-use details. As debates intensify, the Hoosier Survey serves as a benchmark, reminding policymakers that voter sentiment now drives the conversation more than partisan lines.

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