Senate Votes To Legalize Cannabidiol

The Indiana Senate approved legislation Monday to allow anyone in the state to buy or sell cannabidiol, or CBD.

The Senate’s bill is similar to language approved last week by the House – meaning CBD legalization appears to have a clear path forward this session.

Sen. Mike Young’s (R-Indianapolis) bill legalizes CBD as a hemp extract and says it must have 0.3 percent or less THC, an ingredient that causes a high. And he says CBD has few serious side effects.

“But the benefits to this appear to be numerous,” Young says. “It can help people with conditions, especially people going through cancer – treatment for their pain.”

But the bill’s support is not unanimous. Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) notes many states have legalized hemp production and sale, as well as CBD oil. But she says the federal government still restricts those products.

“If I said, ‘I’m going to jump in the lake today. Do you want to jump with me? But it’s really cold.’ That wouldn’t be very smart,” Leising says.

The Senate approved the bill 35 to 13.