News: Indiana Lawmakers Approve Bill To Regulate Craft Hemp Flower Products.

Published 12:00 AM EST, Fri March 28, 2025

The legislation sets out licensing, testing, packaging, age-limit, advertising and other requirements for “craft hemp flower products.” It’s aimed largely at delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an isomer of delta-9 THC—the major psychoactive component in marijuana.

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Indiana's Senate Bill 478 seeks to regulate the sale and production of craft hemp flower products, especially delta-8 THC, in response to what lawmakers describe as a “Wild West” market. The bill includes new regulations around licensing, testing, packaging, age limits, and advertising. While it aims to bring oversight to this gray-area industry, House changes to the bill sparked concern among opponents like the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC), which argues that amendments broaden the scope too much and risk opening a backdoor to marijuana legalization.

Representative Jake Teshka, the bill’s House sponsor, pushed back against critics, asserting that the legislation still maintains prohibitions on the sale of THCA and other cannabinoids in Indiana. He clarified that although cultivation for out-of-state markets may be allowed, the local market would remain tightly controlled. Teshka emphasized that while testing capabilities are limited in some state-run labs, Indiana-based third-party testing is available and could be scaled with additional funding.

Concerns were also raised around the bill's THC potency caps for different product types. Opponents warned that Indiana could become a haven for high-potency hemp-derived THC products, outpacing limits in even fully legalized marijuana states. Teshka countered that the new limits are more restrictive than the current market, and ongoing talks could refine these thresholds. The bill passed through committee and now awaits further review by the House Ways and Means Committee.

This legislation illustrates the growing tension between regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids like delta-8 THC and maintaining a prohibition stance on marijuana. Indiana's attempt to control a rapidly evolving market reflects broader national trends, where states grapple with consumer safety, enforcement gaps, and industry demands. For the cannabis sector, the bill signals that regulation is inevitable—even in conservative states—and could set a precedent for how delta-8 and similar products are treated across the U.S.

Source: Marijuana Moment