Under federal law, Marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Schedule 1 drugs have a high rate of abuse and may create severe physical or psychological dependence. You may be wondering “ is marijuana is legal in Michigan?”

The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act became law in 2008, making Michigan the 13th state to legalize medical marijuana. It became the 10th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana in 2018. During the coronavirus pandemic, Michigan residents are smoking more marijuana than any other state.

With the legalization being so recent, you may not be familiar with the laws and regulations. Read on for everything you need to know about using marijuana legally.

Is Marijuana Legal in Michigan?

In Michigan, you must be over the age of 21 to legally use marijuana. You may only use it in non-public locations, such as your home. Although legal, landowners can ban use and employers may require employees to not have THC in their system.

It is illegal to drive under the influence of THC. You can receive a DUI charge if you drive with marijuana in your system.

Even though weed may be legal in neighboring states, it is illegal under federal law. This means it is illegal to transport across state lines.

Possession

How much cannabis you may have in your possession varies depending on where you are. If you have it with you in public you may only possess 2.5 ounces. If you are within the confines of your own home, you may have up to 10 ounces.

If you are found to be in possession of 2.5 to 5 ounces of marijuana outside your home a first offense may result in forfeiture of the marijuana and a fine of up to $500.

If you are in possession of more than five ounces outside your home you will receive a misdemeanor charge. As long as you are not found to be in violation of willful, habitual, or commercial purpose violations, and no violence took place, there will be no imprisonment. You will have a criminal charge on your record.

When State Law Crosses Into Federal Jurisdiction

Some places within the state of Michigan fall under federal jurisdiction. Airports are a prime example because they are considered to be federal property and follow federal laws. Because of their federal jurisdiction, it is illegal to use or possess cannabis at an airport.

If you forget you have marijuana in your possession and the TSA finds it, under the law they must report it to the police. It is also illegal to possess marijuana at government buildings and prisons. 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is found in the cannabis plant but contains no more than 0.3% THC. Because CBD does not cause you to get “high” and contains less than the 0.3% federal regulation you are able to bring it on airline flights with you.

Distribution of Marijuana

As an adult, you may transfer a maximum of 2.5 ounces of cannabis to another adult under the condition that no money or any other compensation is exchanged. This exchange must be done in private. The transfer falls within the consideration of a gift.

If you are found guilty of selling or distributing marijuana the penalties are:

• Less than 5 kilograms—a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000
• 5 to 45 kilograms—a felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000
• 45 or more kilograms—a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

 The risk of distribution charges makes it more reasonable to purchase your marijuana from a reputable dispensary.

Growing Marijuana

Michigan marijuana laws allow adults to grow a maximum of 12 marijuana plants at their own residence. The use of marijuana is to be for their own personal use only. The growing must take place in an area that is not visible from a public location.

If you violate the growing laws and are found guilty the following penalties may be imposed:

• Growing plants visible from a public place or not in a secure location—civil infraction and a fine of up to $100 plus forfeiture of the marijuana
• Growing up to 24 plants for personal use—civil infraction with a maximum fine of $500
• Growing 25-200+ plants for personal use—a misdemeanor with incarceration if found to be a willful, habitual, or commercial purpose violation or if it involved violence

The safer approach is to forgo the risk of growing and purchase your marijuana products from a dispensary.

Cannabis Edibles in Michigan

Marijuana-infused products were made legal under an amendment to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) in September 2016. A marijuana-infused product is an edible substance, beverage, tincture, or topical formulation that contains usable marijuana. The intent is for human consumption in a manner other than smoking.

Many people find edibles more pleasant than smoking a joint or vaping. Because they resemble gummies or other candy it is easy to transport them without detection.

Before purchasing marijuana products you may want to check reviews of the dispensary for client satisfaction. The number one reason for using marijuana edibles is potency. Edible consumption is the best way to get a powerful and long-lasting high.

When purchasing edibles, you may possess 36 ounces of liquid marijuana-infused products, 16 ounces of solid marijuana edibles, and 7 grams of the gaseous infused product.

Be aware that when counting the marijuana product in your possession, edibles and regular marijuana counts are combined. When you are transporting marijuana edibles the following rules apply:

• The edible must be in a sealed product with a label
• The label must provide 1) name of manufacturer, 2) date of manufacture, 3) weight in ounces, 4) name of person received from, 4) date of receipt
• You must transport the edible in the trunk, and if there is no trunk in a manner that is not readily accessible from inside the vehicle

There are additional regulations for caregivers who transport marijuana edibles for patients.

What About Vaping?

There has been a lot of controversy over whether or not vaping is safe, which has led to bans, lifting of bans, the re-enactment of bans, etc. Testing of vape products has found that those posing a health threat are only found on the black market. 

If you have not toked in a while you will be pleasantly surprised at the wide range of options available to you. You will find a wide variety of papers, pipes, bongs, and digital devices to provide you with a “clean” smoke.

While no method of THC is “safe”, some are more suitable than others. The determination of what method is right for you is a matter of personal preference, finances, and tolerance. Despite the state law legalizing marijuana, almost 1,400 of the 1,773 cities, villages, and townships in Michigan are banning marijuana businesses. 

Shopping for Marijuana in Michigan

Now that you know the answer to “is marijuana legal in Michigan” is yes, you need a reliable and quality dispensary. The River Provisioning in Chesaning, Michigan sells both recreational and medical marijuana products. No medical card is necessary unless you are purchasing medical marijuana products.

You need to prove you are over the age of 21 to purchase from the recreational menu. We have more than 40 strains in stock and a wide selection of cannabis edibles. To make shopping convenient we offer delivery to 159 Michigan cities. 

Our extensive product line includes topicals, tinctures, edibles, concentrates, and cannabis flowers. Check out our deals and specials page where you can sign up to receive a pre-roll for a penny. We invite you to shop our website where you can order for pick up or delivery.