Michigan's medical marijuana law is now in effect

Michigan's medical marijuana law went into effect today, December 4! Seriously ill patients whose doctors recommend medical marijuana no longer have to face criminal convictions for relieving their suffering with limited amounts of marijuana. Many thanks to all of you who made this victory possible by speaking out, collecting signatures, donating to the campaign, and voting.

Under Michigan law, initiatives go into effect 10 days after election results are certified, which happened on November 24. The official results show that Prop.1 received a resounding 63% of the vote and majority support in each of Michigan's 83 counties.

The affirmative defense portion of the law, which allows patients and their caregivers to prove a medical defense in court, is now available. The more complete form of protection, protection from arrest, will be available by early April.

The  department of community health has until 120 days after the law goes into effect to issue rules and begin letting qualifying patients apply for medical marijuana ID cards. At that time, qualifying patients would be able to fill out applications and send in their doctors' recommendations. The department is required to issue an ID card within 20 days of receiving a completed application and registry fee from a qualifying patient. As is the case in most other medical marijuana states, ID cards will protect patients from arrest under state law, provided that they are in compliance with the law.

Patients will be allowed to choose to cultivate their own medical marijuana in an enclosed, locked facility or to designate a caregiver to do so for them. Caregivers will be allowed to assist no more than five patients. For more details, you can read the full law here. The affirmative defense provision is section eight.

Please keep an eye out for our future e-mail alerts: MPP will be counting on patients and their allies to submit public comments about draft rules.  Thank you again for your help in making this sensible and compassionate new law a reality!