Is Weed Legal In Michigan?

For decades now, marijuana, better known as weed, has been a topic of great debate across the United States. As a result, in recent years, various laws, regulations, and rules have been implemented, altered, and abolished.

Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, not every state follows the same laws. As you can probably imagine, this creates a lot of confusion. What might be legal in one state, might be illegal in another.

Bearing this in mind, it’s important that you know the laws surrounding the use, distribution, and sale of weed in your state. Today, we’re going to look at the situation surrounding weed in Michigan.

We’ll look at if weed is legal in Michigan, any laws you still have to follow, and any other rules or regulations you should be aware of. If you want to use weed legally in Michigan, stay tuned!

So, Is Weed Legal In Michigan?

Let’s get straight to the point by answering the main question that brought you to this post. You’ll probably be pleased to hear that weed is legal in Michigan.

In fact, Michigan became the first midwestern state in America to legalize adult use and medical marijuana use in 2018.

In November 2018, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act passed, making it possible for anyone over the age of 21 to possess up to 2.5 ounces of weed and grow 12 plants.

The new laws also made it possible for people to apply for state-licensed cultivation.

However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t still laws and regulations you have to follow if you want to smoke weed in Michigan. We’ll look at these shortly!

Is Weed Legal At Federal Level?

Interestingly, weed is still a controlled substance under federal law. Federal law still sees weed as a drug that has no acceptable medical use and a drug that comes with the potential for abuse.

As a result, weed is still illegal at the federal level.

However, despite these laws, which can result in harsh penalties, weed is still legal in Michigan because every state has the ability to change and modify its own state laws regarding weed.

Michigan is one of the states that has done just that.

What’s Permitted In Michigan?

In Michigan, anyone 21 years of age or older can possess and consume marijuana. Where weed sales are legal, a person over the age of 21 can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.

At home, an individual may keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana flower as long as the location is secured. Growing up to 12 plants is also permitted.

What’s Not Permitted In Michigan?

Just because weed is legal in Michigan doesn’t mean there aren’t still things you can’t do. One of the biggest things Michigan doesn’t permit is the consumption of marijuana in public places.

Anyone that uses weed must do so in a private place. Driving under the influence of Marijuana is also illegal in this state. Finally, individuals can’t cross state lines with weed.

In most instances, it is also illegal to sell weed in the state.

Where Can You Use Weed In Michigan?

With tight restrictions in terms of using weed in public, this can lead some people to wonder where weed can be used in the state, so let’s clear that up.

Michigan law requires anyone that uses weed to do so in private.

It is illegal to use weed in any public place such as a park or street. By private place, the law refers to a private residence or property. It’s also important to remember that some parts of the state fall under federal law instead.

For example, airports fall under state law so the possession, use, or distribution of marijuana in a place like this is illegal under federal law.

Selling And Distributing Weed In Michigan

There are also strict laws and regulations when it comes to the sale and distribution of marijuana in Michigan. Generally speaking, adults can only transfer up to 2.5 ounces of weed to another adult as long as no money changes hands.

In other words, weed can only be transferred to someone as a gift. The transfer of marijuana also can’t be done in public.

However, it is possible to sell weed in Michigan if you have the right permits. To sell or distribute weed in Michigan, an adult must follow the MRTMA, or “adult-use” licensing law.

An individual can only sell or distribute marijuana once they’ve attained the correct licenses.

When they do have a license, weed can only be sold or distributed from a licensed property or store.

Growing Marijuana In Michigan

In Michigan, state laws permit the cultivation of 12 cannabis plants at private residences, as long as the weed produced is for personal use.

However, one thing people must take into account is where in their residence they grow marijuana.

Marijuana can’t be grown anywhere where it’s visible from a public place. Therefore, cannabis plants should always be grown away from windows.

What Are The Penalties For Breaking Michigan’s Weed Laws?

To finish off, let’s look at some of the penalties you could face if you were to break any of Michigan’s laws surrounding the use, sale, and distribution of weed.

When it comes to the possession of marijuana, anyone that possesses more than 2.5 ounces of weed outside will be forced to forfeit their weed and pay a $500 fine.

Anyone caught with more than 5 ounces of weed for commercial purposes can face imprisonment if the offense is serious enough.

Breaking sale and distribution laws vary in punishment depending on the amount of marijuana in question. Someone illegally selling or distributing less than 5 grams of weed can face 4 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Between 5 and 45 grams people face 7 years in jail and a $500,000 fine.

Anyone caught selling more than 45 grams of cannabis illegally can be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $10,000,000.

If you break cultivation laws, you can face a punishment as small as a $100 fine or prison time depending on the severity of the offense and your intentions.

Final Thoughts

Now you’ve made your way through this post, you should know everything there is to know about Michigan’s laws when it comes to weed.

You should now know how to legally use it in the state, the laws regarding sale and distribution, where you can use weed, and how much you can possess.

We’ve also shown you the consequences that come with breaking any of Michigan’s laws so there really is no excuse but to follow the laws correctly. If you do, you’ll be able to smoke weed in Michigan with no issues.

Learn more about Midwest weed laws and legal status of cannabis in neighboring states.

• Is weed legal in Illinois?
• Is weed legal in Indiana?
• Is weed legal in Ohio?
• Is weed legal in Wisconsin?