As of December 6, 2018, marijuana is legal for all adults over 21 in Michigan.
In the November 2018 election, Michigan voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent.
“The Proposal 1 campaign boiled down into one of fact versus fear,” Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Spokesperson Josh Hovey said in a press release. “The data from the nine other states to have legalized marijuana made clear that regulation and taxation are a better solution. Legalization of marijuana will end the unnecessary waste of law enforcement resources used to enforce the failed policy of prohibition while generating hundreds of millions of dollars each year for Michigan’s most important needs.”
Michigan now becomes the 10th state in the U.S. to legalize cannabis, but is the first in the Midwest to do so. As in other states to legalize so far, the law prohibits public consumption.
The new law allows for the possession and transportation of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and the possession of up to 10 ounces in a nonpublic place. Residents can also grow up to 12 plants at home, but plants cannot be publicly visible.
Although marijuana is officially legal in the state, officials are expected to take about one year creating a regulatory and licensing system for retailers and growers. The first recreational marijuana dispensaries in Michigan are expected to open sometime in 2020.
