Cannabis in Michigan

Cannabis in Michigan is legal for medical purposes since 2008, but illegal for recreational use.

Medical cannabis (2008)

In 2008, the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative, establishing a medical cannabis program for serious and terminally ill patients, was approved by the House but not acted upon, and defaulted to a public initiative on the November ballot. "Prop 1" was approved by 63% of voters, making Michigan the 13th state to legalize medical cannabis.^[1]

Municipal legislation

Since the 1970s the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan has enacted some of the most lenient laws on marijuana possession in the United States. These include measures approved in a 1972 city-council ordinance, a 1974 voter referendum making possession of small amounts of the substance merely a civil infraction subject to a small fine, and a 2004 referendum on the use of medical marijuana. Since state law takes precedence over municipal law, the far-stricter state marijuana laws are still enforced on University of Michigan property.

The City of Keego Harbor voted to legalize marijuana for people 21 and older, with up to one ounce, and only in non-public places (such as a house).^[2]

Legality

Recreational use of marijuana has not been decriminalized in the state of Michigan. However, most cities have decriminalization laws. Possession of any amounts of the plant is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year incarceration and a $2,000 fine, while actual using is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine. If possession is in a public park, the sentence is at most 2 years and a $2,000 fine. Distributing marijuana without remuneration is a misdemeanor punishable by at most one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.^[3]

Additionally in the November 2012 election, the cities of Detroit and Flint decriminalized cannabis possession of an ounce or less for persons 21 years and older. Ypsilanti, Michigan passed an ordinance to make cannabis the lowest priority for law enforcement activity.^[4]

The sale and cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 4–15 years imprisonment and $20,000-$10,000,000 in fines depending on the number of plants grown and the amount of usable cannabis sold.^[3]

References