Is Weed Legal In Michigan? — A Primer On Michigan Marijuana Laws
Michigan lawmakers began relaxing the state’s marijuana laws in 2008 when they passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. As the title suggests, this new law created the state’s official Medical Marijuana Registry. Now, any patient with a qualifying condition and a doctor’s approval could apply for an MMJ card. Once patients have their MMJ card, they could purchase cannabis from a state-approved dispensary or hire the services of a caretaker.
Michigan’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department (aka LARA) now looks over the state’s MMJ program. People who are interested in joining the Michigan MMJ Registry should visit this webpage for official info.
Ten years after establishing its MMJ program, Michigan residents legalized adult-use recreational cannabis with the Taxation and Regulation of Marijuana Act. Under this groundbreaking law, anyone over 21 could buy, sell, or use cannabis in the Wolverine State. This act also set up the state’s recreational dispensary program, which formally opened in 2019.
Shortly after Detroit, Michigan legalized recreational marijuana sales, LARA received dozens of applications for recreational dispensaries. Indeed, the state approved over 40 dispensaries just a few months after legalizing adult-use sales. Here are a few hot dispensaries now operating in the Great Lakes State:
FYI: the Taxation and Regulation of Marijuana Act allow local municipalities to “opt-out” of the state’s recreational cannabis program. Today, there are many cities and towns throughout Michigan that don’t allow dispensaries. Be sure to check your local government’s cannabis laws before purchasing recreational weed.
