On December 1, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) of 2018 authorizing the regulated cultivation, sale, and consumption of cannabis by adults for personal use went live. Here is everything you need to know about the updated Michigan weed laws in order to legally purchase, possess, and consume cannabis as a recreational or medicinal user in the state of Michigan. 

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Possession and Purchasing Limits

Adults aged 21 and over are authorized to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis as long as no more than 15 grams of that 2.5 ounces is cannabis concentrates.

The only legal way to purchase cannabis is from a licensed cannabis retail store. A maximum of 2.5 ounces of cannabis with a maximum of 15 grams of that total being cannabis concentrate can be purchased from a cannabis retail store at a time.

Legally aged adults may possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residences. However, any cannabis in excess of 2.5 ounces must be stored in a container or facility that is equipped with locks or other security devices.

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Adults may also give away up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis to another legally aged adult for no remuneration as long as no more than 15 grams of that amount is cannabis concentrates. This kind of transfer cannot be advertised or promoted to the public.

Cannabis cannot be possessed or consumed on school grounds, school buses, or correctional facility grounds. 

Consumption

Cannabis can be legally smoked, ingested, and applied to the skin. There is currently a ban on vaping due to the lung disease epidemic associated with the inhalation method.

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Cannabis can only be consumed in a private residence. Michigan’s law does allow for the operation of cannabis lounges, but no licenses have been issued for these kinds of establishments yet.  Tenants must follow the expectations of the property owner or manager. Property owners and managers may prohibit the smoking of cannabis on their property through a lease agreement. However, the lease agreement cannot prohibit the tenant from lawfully possessing or consuming cannabis in ways other than smoking it. 

Transport and Delivery 

Adults aged 21 and over are legally permitted to transport up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis in their vehicles for personal use. However, no more than 15 grams of the 2.5 ounces can be made up of cannabis concentrates.  Medical patients can currently have cannabis delivered to their homes.

While the legal infrastructure exists for personal use delivery, it is not yet available. Recreational users will need to go to cannabis retail stores to purchase their pot for the time being. 

Driving Under the Influence 

It is illegal to operate, navigate, or be in physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, snowmobile, off-road recreational vehicle, or motorboat while under the influence of cannabis. Violating this rule can result in a DUI conviction.  It is also illegal to consume cannabis as a passenger of a vehicle if that vehicle is in public. If you want to smoke in the car, do it in the garage (but keep your car off so you don’t inhale carbon monoxide).  

Exporting Cannabis

Cannabis cannot be exported across state or country lines according to Federal and state law even if the state you are going to or traveling from has legalized cannabis.  If you must leave Michigan, leave your cannabis at home if you are a resident. If you are just visiting Michigan, consume the cannabis you purchase while in the state and safely discard of the remainder before returning home to avoid violating state and Federal law. 

Personal Cultivation

Adults aged 21 and over may legally cultivate up to 12 cannabis plants for personal use.  The cannabis plants must be obstructed from public view and contained in an enclosed facility that is secured by a lock or other security device that prevents unauthorized people from accessing them. 

Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions

Medical marijuana has been legal in Michigan since 2008.  Patients who have one or more of the following medical conditions may be eligible to receive a medical marijuana card in the state of Michigan:

  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV Positive
  • AIDS
  • Hepatitis C
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Nail Patella
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Colitis
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Tourette’s Disease
  • Autism
  • Chronic Pain
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces 1 or more of the following:
    • Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
    • Severe and Chronic Pain
    • Severe Nausea
    • Seizures (Including but not limited to those that are characteristic of epilepsy)
    • Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms (Including but not limited to those that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis)

Patients may petition to add a condition to this list by filling out this petition form and sending it to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Review Panel. 

Applying for a Medical Marijuana Card in Michigan 

Adult and minor patients (who have consent from their legal guardians) can apply for a medical marijuana card online or by paper.

The application fee is $40.

Patients must get a signature from a physician certifying their diagnosis of a qualifying debilitating medical condition. There must be a bona fide doctor-patient relationship between the patient and the signing physician. The physician must complete a full assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition and conduct an in-person medical evaluation before signing the physician certification.

Patients who complete the application online will have to make sure that their physician has an online account with the state. The patient will receive their approval or denial through email. Their approval email will serve as a temporary medical marijuana card until their permanent one is sent to them via mail.  Patients who complete the paper application must send the completed application and the original signed physician certification by mail to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program address provided in the application packet