Cannabis in Michigan

Cannabis in Michigan is legal for medical purposes since 2008 but illegal for recreational use.

Medical cannabis (2008)

In 2008, the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative, establishing a medical cannabis program for serious and terminally ill patients, was approved by the House but not acted upon, and defaulted to a public initiative on the November ballot. "Prop 1" was approved by 63% of voters, making Michigan the 13th state to legalize medical cannabis.[1]

Legalization initiative (2018)

In November 2017, supporters submitted 365,000 signatures to get legal recreational cannabis on the 2018 ballot; a determination as to whether the initiative will appear on the ballot is expected in January 2018.[2] Michigan will vote on the proposal as Proposal 1 to legalize Marijuana recreationally on November 6th.

Municipal legislation

Since the 1970s the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan has enacted some of the most lenient laws on marijuana possession in the United States. These include measures approved in a 1972 city-council ordinance, a 1974 voter referendum making possession of small amounts of the substance merely a civil infraction subject to a small fine, and a 2004 referendum on the use of medical marijuana. Since state law takes precedence over municipal law, the far-stricter state marijuana laws are still enforced on University of Michigan property.

The City of Keego Harbor voted to legalize marijuana for people 21 and older, with up to one ounce, and only in non-public places (such as a house).[3]

Legality

Recreational use of marijuana has not been decriminalized in Michigan. However, most cities have decriminalization laws. Possession of any amounts of the plant is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year incarceration and a $2,000 fine, while actual using is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine. If possession is in a public park, the sentence is at most two years and a $2,000 fine. Distributing marijuana without remuneration is a misdemeanor punishable by at most one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.[4]

Additionally in the November 2012 election, the cities of Detroit and Flint decriminalized cannabis possession of an ounce or less for persons 21 years and older. Ypsilanti, Michigan, passed an ordinance to make cannabis the lowest priority for law enforcement activity.[5]

The sale and cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and $10,000,000 in fines depending on the number of plants grown and the amount of usable cannabis sold.[4]

The Michigan Legislature is considering full legalization ahead of a fall ballot initiative [6]

Public opinion

Public opinion on the legalization of recreational marijuana in Michigan
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 % support % opposition % Undecided/Don't Know
Marketing Resource Group[7] 2016 600 LV ± 4.0% 53% 42% 5%
Marketing Resource Group[8] September 9–14, 2015 600 LV ± 4.0% 46% 46% 8%
Marketing Resource Group[9] April 13–17, 2015 600 LV ± 4.0% 51% 46% 3%
EPIC-MRA[10] December 10–14, 2014 600 LV ± 4.0% 50% 46% 4%
Marketing Resource Group[11] October 6–10, 2013 600 LV ± 4.0% 41% 55% 4%

Note: for polls after 2016, see 2018 Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative

References

  1. ↑ "Michigan's Proposition 1 Takes Effect Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana". Salem-News.Com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  2. ↑ Kathleen Gray (November 29, 2017), "Group ready to fight plan for legalized pot in Michigan", Detroit Free Press
  3. ↑ Laitner, Bill. "Keego Harbor legalizes marijuana use, possession". Retrieved Nov 4, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "State Laws". norml.org. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Voters In Michigan Cities Back Marijuana Issues". cbslocal.com. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/19/michigan-republicans-marijuana-legalization-vote/33999959/
  7. ↑ Marketing Resource Group, May 2017
  8. ↑ Marketing Resource Group, September 2015
  9. ↑ Marketing Resource Group, April 2015
  10. ↑ EPIC-MRA, January 2015
  11. ↑ Marketing Resource Group, October 2013
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.