Senate Bill 209 - Medical Marijuana Program

• Establishes a medical marijuana program allowing qualified patients and primary caregivers with physician recommendations to possess up to 8 ounces of dried marijuana or an adequate supply for treatment, and to grow up to 12 marijuana plants.

• Creates the Department of Marijuana Enforcement (DOME) as a state agency to administer the program and issue medical marijuana cards valid for 2 years, with application fees not to exceed $100.

• Establishes a DOME Advisory Committee with 4 voting members (appointed by legislative leadership) and 5 nonvoting members (including law enforcement, medical marijuana experts, and state agency representatives) to review program rules and effectiveness.

• Authorizes DOME to grant research licenses to accredited Indiana universities and pharmaceutical/agricultural businesses with in-state research facilities to conduct medical marijuana research.

• Repeals the controlled substance excise tax and marijuana eradication program, and adds affirmative defenses to marijuana possession and dealing charges for qualified patients, caregivers, and researchers operating within program guidelines.