Michigan Governor Issues Emergency Recreational Cannabis Rules

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]M[/dropcap]ichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a set of emergency rules on July 3 that will allow for recreational cannabis smoking lounges and home delivery.

The new rules will provide guidelines for the state’s cannabis program so that they can decide whether they want to ban cannabis businesses or keep them prior to the state regulatory agency accepting applications. These emergency measures will expire in six months. 

“The release of the rules today provides local municipalities and prospective licensees with the information they need to decide how they want to participate in this new industry,” said MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo to Fox 66. “Since we plan to start taking business applications November 1, stakeholders will have four months to evaluate these rules and make their decisions. These rules set Michigan’s marijuana industry on a path for success while ensuring safety for marijuana consumers.”

The new rules explain how the market will function, how the license application will work, and how recreational and medical cannabis will work together. According to these new regulations, medical and recreational products can be sold in the same store, as long as they are physically separated. There will be a new license available for cannabis growers who want to mass-produce for both markets, so that they can grow for both medical and recreational cannabis. Public consumption will also be allowed, specifically at certain events.

These emergency rules are temporary, and will only be effective for six months while the industry is still growing. If all proceeds according to plan, state officials will begin considering business license applicants starting on Nov. 1. According to Mlive.com, recreational cannabis sales could go live as early as the first quarter of 2020, specifically around March 2020. However, only time will tell given Michigan’s history with its cannabis industry. In the meantime, the state will continue to break records with its medical cannabis sales.