In November 2008, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative was approved by 62.7% of voters, making Michigan the thirteenth state to legalize medical marijuana. On the ballot as Proposal 1, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative decriminalized the cultivation and use of medical marijuana by seriously ill individuals who have obtained a doctor’s approval. It allows patients to grow up to 12 marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana. Qualified caregivers can grow up to 12 marijuana plants for each patient, with a maximum of five patients per caregiver.
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act is administered by the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program, which issues Michigan Medical Marihuana Program Registry Identification Cards. It is mandatory for medical marijuana patients and primary caregivers to maintain a valid state registry ID card to receive any protections afforded by the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. A patient or caregiver who possesses a valid state registry ID card is presumed to be in possession of marijuana for medical purposes if the amount does not exceed the limits allowed by state law.
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMMP) is a state registry program administered by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The MMMP administers the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, issues Michigan Medical Marihuana Program Registry ID Cards, and ensures the confidentiality of program participants. Click here to visit the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program’s official website.
In a single envelope, mail the above documents and a check or money order payable to State of Michigan-MMMP (see next section for fee rates) to:
Michigan Medical Marihuana ProgramFor applicants 18 years of age and older, there is a $60 application fee for patients and a $25 application fee for caregivers. Applicants under 18 years of age must pay both the $60 patient application fee and the $25 caregiver application fee.
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing
Michigan Medical Marihuana Program
PO Box 30083
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone Number: 517-284-6400
Email Address: BPL-MMMPINFO@michigan.gov
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Initiative does not allow or disallow for dispensaries and Michigan does not have any statewide dispensary regulations. Under state law, the only way to legally obtain medical marijuana is to grow it, have a caregiver grow it, or receive it as a gift. Regardless, there are several dispensaries operating in the state.
Under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program, a qualified patient may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and grow up to 12 marijuana plants. A medical marijuana patient may designate a primary caregiver to grow up to 12 plants on their behalf. Each caregiver can grow marijuana for up to 5 patients, for a total of 60 plants. State law requires a caregiver to store each patient’s medical marijuana in a separate and securely locked location.
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Initiative was approved by voters on November 04, 2008. It was enacted into law as the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MCL 333.26421 to 333.26430) and became effective on December 04, 2008. The Act allows patients to grow up to 12 marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana, allows primary caregivers to grow up to 12 marijuana plants for a patient, and limits primary caregivers to a maximum of 5 patients. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008:
House Bill 4856 became effective on December 27, 2012
Read the Full Text of House Bill 4856
House Bill 4834 became effective on April 01, 2013
strong>House Bill 4209
House Bill 4827
House Bill 4210
Note: House Bills 4209 and 4827 are tie-barred to each other, meaning neither could take effect unless both are enacted. All three bills would take effect 90 days after enactment.
Read the Bill Analyses for the most recent versions of HB 4209, HB 4827, and HB 4210.
Currently, Michigan law does not allow for recreational marijuana use. The following penalties and fines are for the non-medical use of marijuana. Refer to MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS for information about medical marijuana laws in Michigan.
Offense |
Penalty |
Incarceration |
Max. Fine |
Possession | |||
Any specified amount | Misdemeanor | 1 year |
$2,000 |
In a park or playground | Misdemeanor or Felony | 2 years |
$2,000 |
Use of marijuana | Misdemeanor | 90 days |
$100 |
Sale | |||
Sale without remuneration | Misdemeanor | 1 year |
$1,000 |
Less than 5 kg. | Felony | 4 years |
$20,000 |
5 kg. To 45 kg. | Felony | 7 years |
$500,000 |
More than 45 kg. | Felony | 15 years |
$10,000,000 |
Cultivation | |||
Less than 20 plants | Felony | 4 years |
$20,000 |
20 plants to 200 plants | Felony | 7 years |
$500,000 |
200 plants or more | Felony | 15 years |
$10,000,000 |
Hash & Concentrates | |||
*Penalties for hashish are the same as for marijuana. Please see the marijuana penalties section for further details. | |||
Paraphernalia | |||
Sale of paraphernalia | Misdemeanor | 90 days |
$5,000 |
In 2016, a group known as MI Legalize (also called the Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Initiative Committee) circulated the Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative, turning in 354,000 signatures on June 1st. On June 6th, Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 776 into law, which amended Michigan election law to prohibit signatures older than 180 days from being counted. The passage of SB 776 invalidated 137,000 of MI Michigan’s petition signatures, causing the Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative to be invalid. There are currently no recreational marijuana legalization initiatives on Michigan’s November 8th ballot.
Read the Full Text of Senate Bill 776
Read the Full Text of the Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative