Marijuana is already being cultivated in Michigan with the state government’s blessing, but what are the rules for recreational marijuana. Michigan has not yet legalized recreational marijuana use through legislation. So those michigan marijuana growing laws are still very much in limbo. The only way to acquire any cannabis plant material is from either a licensed medical dispensary or a license holder who has obtained limited amounts of cannabis for personal use. Right now, people who want to grow pot commercially have to go through highly regulated channels and pay a hefty fee that goes into state coffers. Read on for five things you need to know about how Michigan law views marijuana.
1. Michigan has some of the loosest marijuana laws in the United States.
Michigan law classifies possession of up to 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana as a civil infraction, subject to fines up to $100. The Michigan is one of the 13 states that have removed criminal penalties for possessing small amounts. It allows people to obtain what are essentially recreational marijuana growing licenses. Which are only available by state initiative and not ballot initiative, similar to Colorado’s Amendment 64 in 2012. Michigan also is one of 22 states that have decriminalized small amounts (up to 1oz) and replaced criminal penalties with a civil fines.
Marijuana growing laws in Michigan require that cannabis plants be kept indoors and in an enclosed area where no one under the age of 21 could enter. The limit is 12 plants per household. The marijuana must be kept within the home and not visible outside the home, meaning growing cannabis outdoors is not allowed. Growing cannabis indoors also means you don’t need to water it as often as people who grow outdoors. According to this thread on Reddit dedicated to growing weed in Michigan.
2. In Michigan, a key distinction is between recreational and medical marijuana
Although Michigan voters approved marijuana legalization in November. The state legislature is still working out how it will implement the michigan marijuana growing laws. An advisory referendum doesn’t change anything—it only tells lawmakers what changes to make—so Gov. Rick Snyder has until December to decide whether to sign a bill allowing recreational marijuana use and cultivation. Snyder has said he would support recreational legalization with strict regulations protecting children and municipalities. Still, lawmakers have not come up with a proposal on how much control the state should have over recreational cannabis production and sales. For now, all cannabis plants must be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. So look for outdoor grows to be restricted by lawmakers.
2. In Michigan, a key distinction is between recreational and medical marijuana
All the pot cultivated in Michigan is for the state’s medical marijuana program. The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has granted licenses to eight growers with just under 1 million square feet—about 83 acres—of growing space. Each licensee can grow up to 650,000 square feet for a maximum of 56,250 plants at any time (or about 22 acres). That gives each licensee just over 12 mature or budding marijuana plants per patient across the state. The state’s patient population is around 112,000 people.
3. In Michigan Marijuana Growing Laws It’s hard to grow weed in Michigan
A license costs $23,000 to apply for and $195,000 annually to maintain. Each licensee can have up to three locations—which means the state’s total grow space works out at about $1 billion cash (if you had the money) because each location costs so much. Even if medical marijuana cultivation were recriminalized, and even if Michigan decided not to legalize recreational growth – which seems likely – the state would still rake in money because growing weed is so expensive.
4. There are restrictions on what you can do with your marijuana
Some of the Michigan Marijuana Growing Laws rules surrounding medical and recreational marijuana cultivation are similar. For example, medical and recreational cannabis can only be grown indoors in a locked room that is off-limits to minors. In addition, all plants must have proof of identity and ownership registered with the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. There are also restrictions on who may use the plants once harvested; those limits vary between medical and recreational marijuana but generally fall within age limits for smoking or eating cannabis.
5. There are some federally restricted in michigan marijuana growing laws these things you can and can’t do
The Department of Justice has enacted federal laws that the state must follow. According to a 2014 memo by then-Attorney General Eric Holder. That memo outlined eight federal priorities for the enforcement of michigan marijuana growing laws:
- Preventing sales to minors.
- Preventing revenue from flowing from states where pot is legal to states where it’s not.
- Protecting public health and safety.
- Preventing violence and firearms in connection with marijuana use.
- Preventing drugged driving and other harmful effects on public safety personnel and other “derivative” effects.
For example, the DOJ sent letters to banking institutions last year asking them not to work with businesses involved in marijuana sales in states where it has been legalized. Read more about the federal government’s enforcement priorities here.
Conclusion
Michigan may be taking some of the same steps other states have taken regarding legalization. But some parts of the law aren’t typical. The state’s total licensing fees make it hard for anyone to grow marijuana commercially. There are strict michigan marijuana growing laws surrounding who can cultivate and consume the plant, when it can be cultivated and consumed, and where it can be grown. Until Michigan passes a bill that establishes more specific rules around recreational marijuana cultivation, at least one thing is certain. You’re not going to see a cannabis wildfire spreading across Northern Michigan anytime soon.
