Indiana just can’t help being salty about Michigan being ahead of the curve. A new bill in the Hoosier State, Senate Bill 166, aims to ban marijuana advertisements within Indiana. And who are they really targeting? Michigan businesses, of course.

You’ve probably seen the billboards along Indiana highways proudly advertising Michigan’s legal cannabis dispensaries. They’re sometimes witty, usually eye-catching, and, most importantly, promoting a completely legitimate industry in our state, that drives tourism from neighboring states like Indiana.

BELOW: Yes, Michigan Dispensaries are close to the state line, see HOW close ⬇️

But apparently, Indiana can’t stand it. The state is clinging to outdated cannabis laws while most of its neighbors—including Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio—have embraced some form of legalization. Instead of recognizing the potential benefits of legal cannabis, Indiana lawmakers are doubling down on their prohibition mindset, going so far as to try and silence Michigan businesses that are playing by the rules in their state.

Let's be honest- if you don't want your citizens to drive across our state line to enjoy what our state has worked hard to create and profit from. Maybe you should consider legalizing it yourself so you can get some of that awesome tax revenue, too.

Laura Hardy
Laura Hardy
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Indiana Senator Spencer Deery, who introduced the bill, claims these advertisements are a problem because cannabis is illegal in Indiana. But let’s be honest here: this is less about billboards and more about Indiana being frustrated that it’s falling behind in the legalization movement. Michigan and other states have seen the economic and social benefits of legal marijuana, and maybe it’s time for Indiana to take notes instead of taking down billboards.

Look, we get it. Change is hard. But Michigan businesses shouldn’t be punished just because Indiana refuses to catch up with the times. If anything, those billboards are doing Hoosiers a favor—letting them know where to go if they want to enjoy legal, regulated cannabis products. Instead of being offended by a billboard, maybe Indiana should start asking itself why it’s okay with being the outlier in the Midwest.

Michigan's Border Is A Cannabis Hotspot For Out-of-State Travelers

Michigan was the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana and borders three states - Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin - where weed is either illegal or limited, resulting in many people crossing over to get their product from Pure Michigan. Here are the number of stores in these border towns. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill

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