Representative Ragen Hatcher [D] introduced legislation Thursday to establish a five-year medicinal cannabis pilot program in the state of Indiana.
Under HB1535, patients with Parkinson’s disease, celiac disease, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, or any other qualifying condition from the bill’s comprehensive list would be able to obtain a recommendation from a physician to use medicinal cannabis.
Patients under the age of eighteen would be allowed to obtain and use medicinal cannabis if they are seizure-prone due to an epileptic condition or if the state adopts a rule to expressly permit it. Cannabis medicine for underage patients would be limited to edible forms.
The bill also includes language to protect registered patients from discrimination when seeking employment or housing. Landlords and employers would not be permitted to discriminate in renting to or hiring cannabis patients, but they would be allowed to ban marijuana use on their properties and terminate impaired employees.
HB1535 would require the state to establish a sixteen-member medical cannabis advisory board comprised of patients, caregivers, advocates, physicians, and military veteran patients appointed by the governor.
While the bill doesn’t create any taxes for the dispensaries and patients, it does impose a 7% cultivation tax for growers based on the sales price per ounce of cannabis.
If HB1535 passes, the medicinal cannabis pilot program would be set to expire on June 30, 2024.
