Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. faces Jan. 4 bench trial on misdemeanor marijuana charge after Indiana traffic stop

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. is scheduled for a Jan. 4 bench trial in Carmel City Court on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge that stems from an Oct. 12 traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, according to online court records cited by WRTV, WIBC and other Indianapolis outlets. The charge, possession of marijuana as a Class B misdemeanor, was filed Monday, Oct. 19. FOX59/CBS4 first reported the charge, according to WIBC, and The Associated Press, ESPN and CBS Sports reported it on Oct. 23. A charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt.

The case has drawn national attention because of who is involved, but the legal questions it raises are local and familiar. Indiana still treats possession of any amount of marijuana as a crime, while adults can buy cannabis legally in neighboring Illinois and Michigan.

What the affidavit says

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WRTV, a Carmel Police Department officer patrolling near Springmill Boulevard and Silver Stream Drive spotted a black Dodge Charger with an expired plate that was registered to another vehicle. WTHR placed the stop just north of 136th Street, and WIBC described the car as a 2023 Dodge Charger. The officer turned on his emergency lights, pulled the car over and identified the driver as Richardson, 24. AP, citing the affidavit from the Hamilton County prosecutor's office, said the stop was over an expired registration tag and a plate that did not match the one on the registration.

The officer wrote that he "immediately detected the odor of marijuana" and asked Richardson about the smell, WRTV reported. According to the affidavit, Richardson said he had smoked marijuana inside the car because he "did not want to smoke around his children," and that he "had a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle." Richardson was detained while the officer searched the car, WRTV reported, and WIBC said he was handcuffed during the search.

In the glove box, the officer reported finding a small Mason jar of suspected marijuana and an open bag of THC gummies, WRTV and WIBC reported. WTHR reported the jar held about five grams of suspected marijuana, and that the suspected marijuana tested positive for THC. AP described the find as "leafy, green material" along with a bag of five gummies. The items were collected as evidence.

The officer issued Richardson a citation for the expired registration and a summons on the possession charge. CBS Sports reported that Richardson was not arrested and was allowed to leave. Online court records show his initial hearing, which had been set for Dec. 9, was waived, and a bench trial is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2027, WIBC reported. In a bench trial, a judge rather than a jury decides the case.

Richardson's attorney, James Voyles, declined to comment, AP reported. The Colts said in a statement: "We are aware of the situation involving Anthony Richardson and are currently gathering additional information. We will have no further comment at this time."

What Indiana law says

Under Indiana Code 35-48-4-11, knowingly or intentionally possessing marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor. A Class B misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 under Indiana Code 35-50-3-3, the maximum Current Publishing also cited for this charge. Those are maximums set by statute, not a prediction of any outcome in this case.

The same statute sets out higher tiers. Possession becomes a Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior drug conviction, or if the marijuana is packaged in a way that makes it look like low-THC hemp extract and the person knew or reasonably should have known it was marijuana. It becomes a Level 6 felony when a person with a prior drug conviction has at least 30 grams of marijuana. Court reports so far describe only a Class B charge in Richardson's case.

Indiana law also has a first-offense option. Under Indiana Code 35-48-4-12, when a person with no prior drug conviction pleads guilty to misdemeanor marijuana possession, a court may, with the person's consent, defer proceedings without entering a conviction and dismiss the charge if the person meets the court's conditions. Only one dismissal is allowed per person. Whether any such option comes up in a given case depends on the court and the parties, and nothing reported so far says it has been raised here.

A state boxed in by legal markets

Indiana is one of 10 states that has not legalized medical marijuana, let alone adult use, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported in April. Illinois, Michigan and Ohio allow recreational use, and Kentucky has authorized medical cannabis.

Research commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and carried out by RAND, described in the same Capital Chronicle report, found that 44% of Hoosiers, nearly 3 million people, live within a 50-mile drive of at least one licensed dispensary in another state, and 96% live within 100 miles. The researchers estimated that Indiana residents spend about $1.8 billion a year on marijuana and that the state's criminal justice system spends $10 million to $20 million a year on enforcement.

Gov. Mike Braun told reporters in April that he was open to changes, citing how much cross-border traffic there is. "I'm going to do what makes sense," Braun said, according to the Capital Chronicle. "I've said law enforcement will be important." Capital B Gary reported that Braun has also said "a lot of our state police and sheriffs are tolerating people going across the border" to buy cannabis.

Lawmakers have not moved. During the 2026 session, House Bill 1191, from Democratic Rep. Mitch Gore, would have decriminalized possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. It was referred to the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code on Jan. 5, according to the Indiana General Assembly's bill page, and Capital B Gary reported it never got a hearing. A second bill from Republican Rep. Jim Lucas, House Bill 1298, would have moved marijuana and THC from Schedule I to Schedule III under state law. It also did not advance. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray has said "it's no secret" he opposes legalization, Capital B Gary reported.

Where the THC gummies fit

The affidavit's mention of THC gummies points to a second gray area. As of April, Indiana had not banned or regulated the sale of products with delta-8 THC, THCA or other intoxicating hemp cannabinoids, and such products had become "ubiquitous," RAND researchers wrote, according to the Capital Chronicle. Reports on Richardson's case do not say what kind of gummies police found or where they came from, and Hemp Law Watch is not drawing any conclusion about them.

That market is about to shrink nationwide. A federal law redefining hemp to cap finished products at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container was set to take effect Nov. 12. A funding law signed in September moved most of that ban to Dec. 11, Marijuana Moment reported.

What happens next

The next scheduled step is the Jan. 4 bench trial in Carmel City Court, according to the online court records cited by WRTV and WIBC. Richardson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Hemp Law Watch will update this story if the court record changes or if Richardson or his attorney comments.

Additional sources

• WIBC: Colts' Anthony Richardson Sr. Faces Marijuana Charge After Carmel Traffic Stop (https://wibc.com/900078/colts-anthony-richardson-marijuana-charge-after-carmel/)
• WTHR: Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson charged with marijuana possession after Carmel traffic stop (https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/nfl/indianapolis-colts/colts-quarterback-anthony-richardson-charged-marijuana-possession-hamilton-county-carmel-traffic-stop/531-da0a4c05-93d4-4513-9fa3-557b0a3aad4c)
• Current Publishing: Anthony Richardson facing marijuana possession charge after Carmel traffic stop (https://www.youarecurrent.com/2026/10/23/anthony-richardson-facing-marijuana-possession-charge-after-carmel-traffic-stop/)
• ESPN: Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. charged with marijuana possession (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50257962/colts-qb-anthony-richardson-sr-charged-marijuana-possession)
• Indiana Code 35-50-3: IC 35-50-3 Sentences for Misdemeanors (2026) (https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_35/Article_50/Chapter_3.pdf)
• Indiana General Assembly bill page: House Bill 1191 (2026) (https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1191)
• Capital B Gary: As Neighboring States Legalize, Gary Residents Still Risk Arrest Over Weed (https://gary.capitalbnews.org/gary-indiana-marijuana-laws-mike-braun/)

This article explains the law for general information and is not legal advice.