Cannabis programs have been changing the states for the better in recent years, and marijuana in Michigan is no exception. From becoming the fourth-largest marijuana market in the nation to a new movement to declassify weed as a Schedule 1 drug, the midwestern state is on a roll.
So what’s the current state of cannabis in Michigan? Elevate Holistics is here with Michigan cannabis updates and the state’s colorful cannabis history. Let’s get into it!
Michigan Cannabis Updates
We can’t talk about Michigan cannabis updates without mentioning the hefty amount of weed money the state is raking in, the recent change in marijuana costs, and a beneficial new bill that might soon be taking effect.
- Last year, cannabis in Michigan became a 2 billion-dollar industry with the combination of recreational and medical sales. With more than 400 dispensaries in the state, weed in Michigan is expanding rapidly as the recreational market enters its third year.
- The cost of marijuana in Michigan has dramatically decreased due to a saturated market. This means that customers are buying weed at record rates. In January alone, recreational marijuana sales hit more than $124 million – almost double what they were the year prior.
- New proposed legislation in Michigan aims to declassify cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug. House Bill 5877, named after Ann Arbor cannabis legalization activist John Sinclair (more on that below), would remove cannabis from the state’s list of Schedule 1 drugs.
Learn more about Michigan marijuana laws by clicking here.
History of Weed in Michigan
The movement of marijuana in Michigan started with a political rally. Residents held the rally in response to the Michigan Supreme Court’s 10-year prison sentence of activist and poet John Sinclair for the possession of two marijuana joints in 1969. Two years later, the “John Sinclair Freedom Rally” took place to advocate for Sinclair’s release. (John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, and many others attended the concert/rally.) Three days later, the state released Sinclair.
Then in 1972, the celebration of his release combined with the political climate turned into a festival called “Hash Bash” in Ann Arbor. Since then, Hash Bash has been celebrated annually as a festival of cannabis activism and all things weed in Michigan. The residents of Michigan set the tone for the state and created many firsts for the Midwest.
In 2008, voters legalized medical marijuana in Michigan through the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative. Michigan was the 13th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first midwestern state to do so. But over the course of eight years, the state experienced a confusing set of legal battles regarding cannabis in Michigan. Because of that, Michigan’s medical marijuana industry wasn’t properly launched until 2016.
Despite all of this progress, cannabis in Michigan is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug, alongside drugs like heroin and ecstasy. Classifying weed in Michigan as a Schedule 1 drug has greater significance than just a label. Its classification affects residents’ employment, housing, and guardianship by allowing those in power to base their policies around the Schedule 1 drug definition.
Why is Cannabis a Schedule 1 Drug?
But wait, why is weed classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the first place? According to Michigan state law, a Schedule 1 drug has a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, or lacks accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. And this definition does not fit when it comes to marijuana.
When did marijuana become a Schedule 1 Drug? In 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act was enacted, prohibiting cannabis at the federal level. Continuing to classify marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug federally, after all of the progress that’s been made and all the research that has been done, is inconsistent with its own definition.
Stay in the Know With Elevate Holistics
The world of cannabis is continually changing, and we’re here to help. Michigan cannabis updates, the latest on terpenes and flavonoids – Elevate Holistics’ blog has it all. Not only do we keep you informed of all things cannabis, but we also offer a safe, simple way to get your medical marijuana card.
Through a 100% online process, Elevate Holistics will connect you with a certified cannabis physician via video chat to get your MMJ card approval. We’re here to help every step of the way and make it as painless as possible.
