Marijuana is legal in Michigan — but that doesn’t mean you can light up anywhere.
Adults age 21 and over are free to possess marijuana and consume it in private.
While there aren’t retail stores yet, they are coming soon — and will likely be open by the first months of 2020.
That means if you want to get marijuana now, you have to receive it as a gift from someone, per state law.
Michigan lit the way for recreational marijuana in the Midwest, so where are the pot shops?
It’s been more than half a year since voters said yes to legalization.
When sales do launch at retail stores, there will be a large variety of products to choose from. From the marijuana flower that you smoke to pre-rolled joints to vape cartridges, there are a number of ways to consume marijuana.
And cannabis companies are capable of infusing marijuana oil into any number of products, from lotion to gummy candy to breath mints. There’s also cannabis wax and shatter, which is consumed through a special apparatus.
Michigan has placed no limits on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that can be in a marijuana product. THC is the active chemical in marijuana that gives users a psychoactive high. There’s also no set standards for how much marijuana is in a joint.
When can I buy marijuana in Michigan?
State officials issued rules for the recreational marijuana industry, but can’t yet answer the question.
That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the labels on product packaging, as some could have high concentrations of THC and others may not. Manufacturers often suggest on their labels how much of an edible or oil is considered to be a single dose. Which means if you buy a cannabis-infused chocolate bar, one dose is likely to be a piece of the bar and not the whole thing.
Bud tenders — or the staff that work at retail stores — will be able to advise consumers on how to consume or try new products if they’re first-time users.
And for at least the first year of adult-use retail sales, consumers will be only able to buy weed from businesses who are already operating as state-licensed medical marijuana provisioning centers.
Customers will only be allowed to buy up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at a time from a retail store, and not more than 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.
Those are the same limits for how much marijuana you can carry on your person at a time: up to 2.5 ounces of flower, and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.
You’re allowed to keep more at home: individuals can have up to 10 ounces of marijuana flower, as long as it’s stored securely.
Consuming marijuana is limited to private places — like your home or a friend’s home. It’s not legal to consume marijuana in your car — even if you are a passenger — or in public.
But if you’re driving with marijuana, it’s likely best to keep it locked up and in the trunk where it’s out of reach.
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That said, it’s not legal to take marijuana from Michigan out-of-state. Even when retail sales begin to occur in 2020, marijuana sold in Michigan has to stay in Michigan. That’s because marijuana is still illegal federally.
People can grow up to 12 marijuana plants at home, but they have to be kept out of public view and in a secured area. If the plants are grown outside, they have to be kept behind locked fences.
In the future, marijuana smoking lounges and smoking at concerts will be allowed, as long as the correct state licenses and permits are acquired. Home delivery of weed is also coming soon.
College campuses and other institutions that receive federal funding likely still prohibit marijuana. And employers are still able to fire employees who fail drug tests for marijuana use.
— Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. Read more from MLive about medical and recreational marijuana.