Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden and Corey Booker have pushed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would legalize Cannabis (Marijuana) at the federal level. Schumer is vowing to bring the matter to a vote this year whether Biden gets on board or not—is in essence promising to force the issue.

If CAOA passes marijuana will remain illegal in Indiana because the proposed legislation allows states to decide the legality of cannabis within their borders. Federal legalization will not change Indiana code, at least as is proposed in CAOA.

Governor Holcomb has previously stated that he would not support legalization as long as it was illegal at the Federal level? Does that mean Governor Holcomb will get on board if it becomes legal at the Federal level? Well—he also didn’t say he would support it if it did. But CAOA could potentially make it easier for some legislators to go along with legalization. The bottom line is that CAOA will not legalize marijuana in Indiana. State legislators will need to do that.