Cannabis Arrests in Northwest Indiana Fall Despite Legalization in Neighboring States

Cannabis arrests in three Northwest Indiana counties bordering Illinois and Michigan declined from 1,272 in early 2021 to 734 by late 2025, even as neighboring states continued adult-use sales. Local police accounted for most arrests, and Indiana residents made up the largest share of those charged.

Cannabis arrests in Northwest Indiana counties that border Michigan and Illinois fell between 2021 and 2025, according to an analysis cited by Ganjapreneur. In Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties, misdemeanor and felony cannabis charges totaled 1,272 in the first quarter of 2021 but dropped to 734 by the fourth quarter of 2025.

The trend was not linear. Arrests spiked to 1,742 during the second quarter of 2022, the highest level recorded during the period, before falling below 1,000 the following quarter. Arrests rose again over the next two quarters, then declined below 1,000 for two consecutive quarters.

The lowest point came in the third quarter of 2024, when the three counties recorded 468 cannabis arrests. That was followed by three straight quarterly increases to 734, 826, and 1,192, before the count decreased to 842 and then again to 734.

Illinois began adult-use cannabis sales on January 1, 2020, while Michigan launched its program in 2018. Despite legal access across state lines, local police departments in the Indiana counties accounted for the majority of arrests, with 12,162 during the analysis period. County sheriff's departments recorded 7,736 arrests, and state police recorded 1,466.

Most of those arrested were Indiana residents, totaling 11,872 people. Another 3,690 arrestees were from Illinois, and 4,582 were from other states.