INDIANAPOLIS — Dozens of stores in Ohio are now open to sell marijuana for recreational use as it is now officially legal there.
This means that marijuana possession is now legal in three states surrounding Indiana, so we talked to Indiana State Police about how this could affect Hoosiers.
It is still illegal to have any amount of marijuana here, and police said they will continue to enforce that law.
An ISP spokesperson told us they haven't seen an increase in marijuana possession in our state since it was legalized in Illinois and Michigan, but they do find more people who don't realize they cannot bring marijuana across state lines.
"Even if you buy it legally in any other state, you cannot bring it back to Indiana and possess it," said Sgt. John Perrine. "Not knowing the laws is not a valid excuse. Oftentimes we'll pull somebody over that's not even from Indiana. Maybe they're just driving through and they'll say 'I didn't realize it was illegal here'. You're still subject to arrest, you're still subject to fines and, and things like that."
ISP told 13News they do not currently have plans to step up patrols near the Ohio border.