A Work in Progress

The first significant update to Michigan’s medical cannabis program went into effect on December 20, 2016. The three laws extend the state’s medical cannabis program to permit edibles and oils, regulate cultivation and manufacturing facilities for cannabis and regulate medical cannabis collectives. This was a huge victory for Michigan’s cannabis community, which was previously operating in a legal gray area since 2008.

Governor Rick Snyder signed the bills in September 2016, and during this time he shared how patients will be affected by the changes. “This new law will help Michiganders of all ages and with varying medical conditions access safe products to relieve their suffering,” Snyder said. “We can finally implement a solid framework that gives patients a safe source from which to purchase and utilize medical marijuana.”

“MILegalize and other cannabis law reform groups are gearing up to correct this anomaly with a 2018 legalization petition, the effect of which would set the tax rate on medical cannabis at zero.”

Many advocates are excited about the long-awaited changes to Michigan’s medical cannabis program. However, the new laws still have some issues. One problem that patients will face is that medical cannabis will become the only medicine in the state to be taxed. Jeffrey Hank is an attorney and also is an important member of MI Legalize, which is the leading organization toward getting recreational cannabis legalized in Michigan. The group also advocates for patients’ rights to medical cannabis. Hank shared with CULTURE more insight into the problems patients will face with Michigan’s new cannabis laws.

“It is a shame Michigan politicians would disparately treat the medically safe natural healing remedies of the cannabis plant as singularly deserving of a tax, but then again, politicians rarely do the right thing when it comes to cannabis policy,” Hank stated. “MI Legalize and other cannabis law reform groups are gearing up to correct this anomaly with a 2018 legalization petition, the effect of which would set the tax rate on medical cannabis at zero.”

Although taxation is a troubling issue that patients in Michigan will face, it isn’t the only future problem. Patients who do not own homes or have permission from their landlords to smoke or grow cannabis will not be able to do so. “The recently enacted landlord bill is typical government overreach by special interests to what is mostly a non-existent problem,” Hank stated. “Landlords could already prohibit smoking in apartments. The poorest of patients are harmed and without complimentary responsible social use legislation for commercial cannabis lounges, coffee shops, and what not, the heartless politicians of Michigan have once again showed a stunning lack of compassion and made life harder for some of Michigan’s medical marijuana patients.”

Disallowing patients to grow cannabis at their residence is especially troubling for those who are unable to travel to a collective. Also, not having designated areas in the city that permit social use of cannabis gives some medical cannabis patients no options for consuming cannabis legally.