Cannabis Laws in Michigan: Marijuana laws can be a confusing topic to some, and understanding the laws involved in using marijuana can be important if you are interested in using it yourself. Whether you are looking to use cannabis medically or recreationally, there will always be laws and regulations that you need to follow.
What are the cannabis use laws in Michigan, and how widespread has cannabis use become across the state?
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Is Using Marijuana Legal in Michigan?
Marijuana is fully legalized in Michigan, being the 13th state to officially legalize it for medical use in 2008 and the 10th to legalize it for recreational use in 2018. Adults can easily obtain marijuana for their own purpose use, with the laws surrounding it focusing on safe usage and the regulation of marijuana sources.
Adults aged 21 or older can legally obtain and use cannabis all across Michigan, with a single person being allowed to carry up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis at any one time. Medical patients younger than 21 can also use medical marijuana as long as they have legal permission from a parent or guardian and have a medical marijuana card.
Cannabis can be used in a wide range of forms. Michigan allows users to enjoy cannabis-infused drinks, oils, edibles, hash and concentrates along with the typical dried leaves and extracts. The only limitations are on how much a single person can carry or purchase at once.
Recreational Marijuana in Michigan
Michigan has very few restrictions on the actual use of recreational marijuana within the state’s borders. While you can only carry so much at any one time, you are effectively free to enjoy it at your own pace without needing to worry about breaking any laws.
Medical Marijuana in Michigan
Michigan allows full use of marijuana in medical contexts, as long as the patient has permission to actually get that marijuana themselves. As mentioned earlier, patients do not need to be over the age of 21 – they just need to have permission from a parent or guardian.
Cannabis Use in Michigan
Only people over the age of 21 are permitted to consume cannabis lawfully in Michigan. In regards to where you may consume cannabis, Michigan law stipulates that anybody who does so do so in privacy, such as in their own home. It is illegal to use cannabis in a public place, such as a park or on the street.
Furthermore, keep in mind that certain portions of the state are governed by federal rather than state law. Airports, for example, are considered federal property and must adhere to federal regulations. As a result, possessing or using cannabis at an airport or any other federal property, such as government buildings or jails, is unlawful. Furthermore, carrying cannabis in places frequented by children, such as schools and school buses, is illegal.
How Much Can I Have at the Same Time?
The possession of cannabis is a different story. The quantity you can carry varies according to where you are. For example, although you are permitted to keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in your home, you are not permitted to carry more than 2.5 ounces of cannabis on your person while out in public.
Where May Cannabis Products Be Used?
According to Michigan state law, any cannabis use must take place in private, such as in the user’s own home. Cannabis usage in public places is prohibited. It is also unlawful to transport cannabis in places where children congregate, such as schools or school buses.
It is also crucial to note that certain sections of the state are subject to federal rather than state legislation. Possession or consumption of cannabis is prohibited in public areas such as airports and government facilities.
Traveling With Marijuana
Many individuals are perplexed about how to lawfully travel with marijuana because of the inconsistencies between federal and state regulations. We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about this subject below.
If the TSA discovers marijuana in your luggage, they are unable to examine the authenticity of your card and must report the finding to the authorities. The police and the prosecutor will next decide whether criminal charges are justified given the circumstances.
Can I take CBD With Me When I Travel?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of cannabis’ active components. CBD is present in all strains of the cannabis plant. CBD is often extracted from industrial hemp, which is a strain of the cannabis plant that has no more than 0.3% THC and is thus lawful under federal law. Many individuals utilize it for its anti-anxiety and soothing effects.
CBD, unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), does not produce a “high.” As a result, as long as your CBD product contains less than 0.3% THC, you may carry it on a plane.
Will These Laws Ever Change?
Michigan is one of the most marijuana-friendly states in the entire US, and these laws are not likely to roll back any time soon. The public sways heavily towards keeping it legalized and would quickly oppose any attempts to criminalize it again.
Before being adopted statewide, individual municipalities within Michigan made their own efforts to decriminalize both marijuana use and marijuana possession, as well as remove some of the incentives for marijuana-related crimes to be penalized harsher than those that did not involve it.
This has made Michigan a very cannabis-friendly state, allowing cannabis users (both recreational and medical) a way to use marijuana without fear of being prosecuted. The only way to know if these laws will relax further is to wait and see what happens – recently, there were some limits lifted during the COVID-19 lockdown, making it easier to get recreational marijuana safely.
If you want to know more about how cannabis is handled in Michigan, then Michigan Marijuana has a breakdown of the laws surrounding marijuana users.