Weed is officially legal in Michigan.
The new law went into effect on December 6, allowing recreational use for Michiganders inside their homes. In addition, people in the Midwestern state will be able to grow up to 12 plants for personal use and carry 2.5 oz on their person.
While this is the largest legal carrying amount in the country, Michigan still prohibits smoking marijuana in public. And it's still entirely illegal to sell weed in the state, though that is likely to change in the near future.
The state is holding off on issuing recreational sales licenses until they can hammer out the rules and regulations shop owners will have to follow. They have until December of 2019 to figure those out and start accepting applications. There is no time frame on how long the process will take from there.
In the meanwhile, newly elected governor Gretchen Whitmer is set to take office on the first of January. She said she will begin to work on expunging the criminal records of people convicted of marijuana-related offenses.
“I think that the people of Michigan have said that for conduct that would now be considered legal, no one should bear a lifelong record for that conduct,” Whitmer said at a press conference in November. “We will start taking a look at that and making some decisions and taking some action early next year.”
Other Michigan politicians are already taking steps in that regard. CBS News reports that a county prosecutor has already dismissed 50 misdemeanor marijuana cases in light of the new law.
Related Stories
How to Invest in Legal Weed
The weed business is booming—even though the drug isn't federally legal. We asked an expert how to avoid the risks and make bank.
First Recreational Marijuana Shops Open on the East Coast
It's a historic moment, as Massachusetts becomes the first East Coast state to permit legal recreational sales.
Canada Passes Historic Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
Canadian lawmakers officially passed Bill C-45, aka the Cannabis Act, on Tuesday night, making Canada the first G7 nation to legalize recreational marijuana use.
