ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Indiana’s controversial crackdown on cannabis ads.
After years of failed attempts, state lawmakers have passed a bill banning marijuana dispensary advertising—despite it being legal just across the border in Michigan.
But we found out, some of the billboards in Indiana for those dispensaries there aren’t going anywhere.
Bill Author and State Representative Jim Pressel says this new law comes after complaints from Hoosiers fed-up with billboard and flyer ads for marijuana, an illegal substance in Indiana.
While the state isn’t legalizing weed anytime soon, it is drawing a hard line on how it’s marketed.
It’s a familiar sight near the Indiana-Michigan border, billboards advertising Michigan marijuana dispensaries like Green Stem.
But now, Indiana lawmakers say: enough.
“Something that’s illegal in Indiana should not be able to be advertised in Indiana,” said Pressel.
Tucked into an unrelated motor vehicles bill, the new law bans marijuana advertising across Indiana, including outdoor signs, mailers, digital ads, and even mobile billboard trucks.
It takes effect the moment Governor Mike Braun signs it.
Pressel says constituents were frustrated by weekly mailers, and some even believed Indiana had legalized marijuana, prompting concern and action.
“It has nothing to do with making marijuana illegal or not making it illegal or legal. Its really about advertising and illegal substance. It’s illegal in this state,” said Pressel.
But across the border in Niles, dispensary owners aren’t overly concerned.
Many tell me the rule might cut into some Indiana foot traffic, but they emphasize that online advertising is the new wave in this time.
However, the new law makes it clear: advertising cannabis in any form— including social media, web ads, and geo-targeted promotions—will be illegal in Indiana.
But not all roadside signs will disappear. Dispensaries like Green Stem in Niles locked in decade-long billboard contracts just weeks before the law passed.
Since the bill cannot cancel active agreements, those ads are grandfathered in and can legally remain up until 2035.
“I don’t think anybody in the general assembly myself included anticipated somebody going out and buying a 10-year contract. I would also say that those outdoor advertisers knew the intent of this law,” said Pressel.
Enforcement will come from the Attorney General’s office, with fines starting at $5,000 and climbing to $15,000 for repeat violations.
As for when we might start seeing the ads disappear, enforcement begins as soon as the governor signs the bill into law.
