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Medical Marijuana vs Adult Use Marijuana Rules In Michigan

A marijuana bud that has just been harvested

As a Michigan resident you’re lucky. You have two options for purchasing cannabis in your state — medical marijuana or recreational marijuana. It’s up to you now, so go ahead and take your pick.

Whether you’re a medical marijuana patient, a resident wanting to purchase legal cannabis, or someone traveling in Michigan from another state, it’s a smart idea to be aware of all of the laws that apply.

Medical Marijuana Laws In Michigan

Before you can purchase medical cannabis in Michigan, it’s necessary to meet some basic criteria to get a medical marijuana card. First, you must be at least 18-years-old to be a medical marijuana patient. You’ll also need to see a doctor to get diagnosed with one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • AIDS
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Arthritis
  • Autism
  • Cancer
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Chronic Pain
  • Colitis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis C
  • HIV+
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Nail Patella
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • PTSD
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Tourette’s Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces 1 or more of the following:
    • Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
    • Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms (including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis)
    • Severe Nausea
    • Severe and Chronic Pain
    • Seizures (including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy)

Medical Marijuana For Minors

If you’re a minor and have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition, you can assign a caregiver to supply you with medical marijuana. Caregivers must be at least 21years of age, and can only serve five patients at a time.

Growing Medical Marijuana For Patients

In Michigan, medical marijuana patients are allowed to grow up to 12 plants in a locked and enclosed facility. Plants grown outdoors must be in an area that can’t be seen by passersby. Only a medical marijuana patient can have access to their personal cultivation.

Medical Marijuana Allotment In Michigan

Medical marijuana patients in Michigan are allowed a monthly allotment of 2.5 ounces, and up to ten ounces at home. This allotment can either be purchased in a medical marijuana dispensary, or grown at home by the patient.

Medical Marijuana Delivery

If you’re a housebound patient, or feeling too sick to get to a medical marijuana dispensary, look for dispensaries that provide delivery service right to your door.

Recreational Marijuana Laws In Michigan

With the passage of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act in November 2018, cannabis was legalized for adults over 21 years of age. The major difference between being a medical marijuana patient and a recreational cannabis consumer is that patients need to be registered with the state as having a qualifying medical condition.

Recreational Dispensaries In Michigan

As of December 2019, recreational marijuana dispensaries opened their doors in Michigan. Opening a recreational cannabis dispensary is an easier process than starting a medical marijuana dispensary. It’s also less expensive. Legislators loosened restrictions on recreational licenses and the licensing fees are quite a bit lower.

Coming soon will be dispensaries that are allowed to serve both medical marijuana patients and adult-use consumers. Regulations require that these “combo” dispensaries clearly identify and separate their medical marijuana and recreational products.

Home Delivery For Recreational Customers

For those over 21 years of age, home delivery of adult-use marijuana began in December 2019.

Taxation Of Recreational Marijuana Products

Medical marijuana and recreational cannabis are subject to different tax laws. There’s a 10% excise tax on recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana is currently not taxed at all.

Recreational Marijuana Potency Is Lower

Medical marijuana products can have a THC potency of up to 50mg per serving for edibles. Recreational marijuana products, however, are capped at 10mg or under per serving.

For updates on the changing marijuana regulations in Michigan, talk to the knowledgeable staff at Nature’s Medicines.

Visit our recreational and medical marijuana dispensary in Bay City, Michigan
Visit our recreational and medical marijuana dispensary in Wayne, Michigan
Visit our recreational marijuana dispensary in Battle Creek (Emmett Township), Michigan
Visit our medical marijuana dispensary in District 7 (Detroit), Michigan

For more information on medical marijuana in Michigan, see also:
How To Choose A Dispensary In Michigan
Michigan Medical Marijuana Laws
How To Get A Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Card In Michigan
How To Buy Medical Marijuana In Michigan
Michigan Allotment Of Medical Marijuana
Michigan Medical Marijuana – Do’s And Don’ts
History Of Medical Marijuana In Michigan
Bay City Medical Marijuana Certifiers
Wayne Medical Marijuana Certifiers