Things to know about using marijuana legally in Michigan | News, Sports, Jobs

Now that marijuana is legal in Michigan for both medical and recreational use, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department has released some information for those who may be considering it.

Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana on November 6, 2018. This law went into effect on December 6, 2018 and is officially called the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program, or MMMP, is a state registration program that administers the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act as approved by Michigan voters on November 4, 2008. MMMP is a division within the Marijuana Regulatory Agency separate from the Medical Marihuana Facilities and the adult licensing division within the MRA and governed by a different law. Only a physician or doctor of osteopathic medicine and surgery who has a current license to practice medicine in the state of Michigan can fill out and sign the medical certificate for a qualified patient. This is NOT a prescription; many confuse it as such.

You may be thinking, “Why bother getting a Medical Marijuana Card when I can legally buy it without one?” With the card it is treated like “medicine”. A doctor will state that you have an illness that medical marijuana can help with, but only certain illnesses are eligible. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine has discovered useful uses for marijuana in treating or relieving pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating conditions. The other difference is the taxes people pay and the amount. Taxes are much higher on recreational marijuana. The Medical Marihuana Card may offer additional protection and benefits, but it is up to the person who holds the card to seek legal counsel for further details on the matter.

Whether you use it for medical reasons or for recreation, you need to understand what is at stake if you fail to follow certain rules. State Law –

– Permits a person 21 and older not to own, use or consume, purchase, transport or process more than 2.5 ounces of marijuana; of this amount there must not be more than 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.

– Allows a person 21 and older to own, store, and process no more than 10 ounces of marijuana and any marijuana produced by marijuana plants grown on the property, and no more than 12 marijuana plants for personal use to grow.

– Allows a person to give away or otherwise transfer up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana without compensation, with the exception that no more than 15 grams of marijuana concentrate may be given to anyone 21 years of age or older while there the broadcast is not publicly advertised or promoted.

There are also other regulations and prohibitions for those who wish to use it for leisure. For more information, go to www.legislature.mi.gov, do a Basic MCL Search, and type in “Marihuana Act”. You will likely need legal counsel to help you interpret the language.

Another area to address is marijuana and driving. Under no circumstances should one operate, navigate, or have physical control of an automobile, airplane, snowmobile, ATV, or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana. This also applies to those who have the Medical Marihuana Card; You are not exempt from driving under influence penalties even if you have a “medical reason for using”. Some other points –

– As a driver, you can carry and transfer up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana with you; no more than 15 grams may be in the form of a concentrate.

– Drivers are not allowed to consume marijuana while NOT operating any type of vehicle.

– Drivers and / or their passengers are prohibited from smoking marijuana in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

– Drivers and passengers cannot bring marijuana to Canada.

Police officers look for impairments based on driving behavior, personal observations of the driver, and a driver’s performance on standardized and / or non-standardized field sobriety tests. Based on these three phases of an investigation, a police officer can request a chemical test. If a driver refuses to undergo a chemical test, their license will be suspended under Michigan tacit consent law. According to this law, all drivers have agreed to the test by applying for and extending their driving license.

The penalties for operating under the influence of marijuana are the same as for operating under the influence of alcohol. These penalties can include up to 93 days in prison, up to $ 500 fine, driver’s license disqualification, six points on a person’s driver’s license, and more. There are increased penalties if a driver has minors in the vehicle.

One final note: how do individuals store and keep their marijuana away from young children? The health department is launching a “Lock ‘Em Up” campaign to help parents protect their children. If you’re interested in getting a free lock box for your marijuana and other medications / prescriptions, contact Health Educator Kelly Rumpf at 906-779-7234. Also, if you have any questions and want to learn more, please call the number above. We will do our best to “explain” the registration program to you.

Those with questions about the MMMP application and registration process can email MMMP directly at MRA-MMMPINFO@mighigan.gov or by calling 517-284-6400. You can also check their frequently asked questions on their website.

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