In December 2018, Michigan voted to legalize cannabis for recreational use, joining 11 other states who have passed similar laws over the past few years. Starting in 2019, it became legal for Michigan residents over the age of 21 to possess, grow, and consume marijuana flower and other products.

Below, we discuss everything you need to know about Michigan cannabis laws, from the status of recreational dispensaries in the state to the rules surrounding consuming marijuana in public.

Buying Marijuana in Michigan

Since voters elected to legalize cannabis in 2018, the state has been working to establish rules that will define the legal marijuana industry in the state. As of June 2019, the rules have not yet been finalized, meaning that the state cannot issue licenses for recreational dispensaries.

Without licenses being issued, the only people who can purchase cannabis legally in Michigan are residents with a medical marijuana card. However, once recreational dispensaries are opened, people over 21 can buy a yet-to-be-defined amount of cannabis. Residents can also receive a “gift” of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana from another adult.

Possessing Cannabis

Michigan residents who are 21 or older can have up to 2.5 ounces of flower or 15 grams of concentrate on their person outside of the home. In their private residence, people can possess up to 10 ounces of flower, as long as 7.5 ounces is locked into a safe or another secure place.

Residents can also grow up to 12 marijuana plants per household, with no limit on the amount of flower harvested from the plants that can be in the home at one time. The plants must be grown indoors or in a locked, private enclosure outside.

Consuming Cannabis in Michigan

Like other states who have legalized cannabis, the laws are still strict about where you can consume it. In Michigan, it is illegal to consume marijuana in a public space. The law doesn’t explicitly define what constitutes a public space, but residents can safely assume that private property is the best place to consume marijuana without infringing on the law.

Pending the rules that Michigan legislature is creating, residents may be able to consume marijuana in specially designated public places, also known as consumption lounges or cannabis clubs.

Driving and Cannabis

Like alcohol and other substances, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of cannabis or while consuming cannabis. Driving under the influence will result in a DUI while consuming in a vehicle counts as a civil infraction.

Michigan has no legal limit for THC levels, so prosecution and arrest for a cannabis-related DUI will be completed on a case-by-case basis.