Recreational cannabis has been legal in Michigan since late 2018, but there are still some ins and outs to keep in mind to make sure you stay on the right side of the law…
In November of 2018 and after multiple years of heavy debate between lawmakers, Michigan became the first state in the conservative mid-west to approve recreational cannabis use for adults above the age of 21. The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act passed with a majority vote of 56%, following the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative act of 2008 which allowed medicinal cannabis sales.
Rules for recreational cannabis cultivation
The cultivation laws for recreational weed are pretty generous in Michigan, but they do come with certain caveats. No matter whether you chose to grow from clones or from weed seeds, each residence is allowed to house a maximum of 12 plants at any one time. Some of the strict conditions placed on home growers include:
- The cultivation area must be able to be locked so that only the residents have access, and must be kept closed at all times when not being the plants are not being tended to.
- The plants themselves must not be obviously visible to the general public.
- The plants must be kept in a fully secure area that is inaccessible to the general public.
- When grown outdoors, the crop must not be visible to the next-door neighbors while standing at ground level.
- Outdoor grow spaces must be totally enclosed in some type of fencing that is able to be securely locked.
- All drying, trimming, and subsequent curing must take place inside a permanent structure.
These rules are specifically aimed at homeowners. If you live in a rental property then it is entirely up to the landlord whether the renters are allowed to cultivate, and also whether the renters are allowed to consume weed inside the residence.
If you are caught growing more than 12 plants but less than 24 you can be fined up to $500. If you are growing less than 200 plants but can prove it is entirely for personal use then you can expect to not face any type of fine or punishment.
Rules for recreational cannabis usage
As long as you are consuming your weed in a private area then you should have nothing to worry about. It is illegal to smoke in any outdoor public space, and you should be very careful where you carry. If you are caught with weed in any place frequented by children, such as public parks, or within 500 ft of schools then you could be in for some trouble. Its best to keep your weed safe at home for the most part.
As long as you are not in one of these areas you are allowed to carry up to 2.5 oz, and are allowed to keep up to 10 oz in your personal residence. While this is good to keep in mind, there have been very few arrests for carrying cannabis since it became recreationally legal back in 2018.
You are also allowed to transfer up to 2.5 ounces to any consenting adult, as long as this transaction involves no remuneration (you can receive any payment or gift as payment). Sales of more than 5 oz but less than 5kg come with the possibility of a felony charge, 4 years imprisonment, and a $20000 fine.
So there you have it, all the most important rules to keep in mind if you live in Michigan and like to partake in the occasional jazz cigarette.
