Now that Michigan voters passed a proposal on Nov. 6, 2018, to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, many individuals still have questions. Many facts about Michigan recreational marijuana use laws have been misunderstood, but here are the basics that you need to know.
Snapshot of Michigan Recreational Marijuana Use Laws
• Election results won’t be official until ballots are certified by St. Clair County and state of Michigan elections officials. This step is usually completed several days after the election.
• Recreational use of marijuana will be legal 10 days after the votes are certified. Voters approved the proposal by a 65-44 percent margin.
• You must be 21 or older to purchase, possess, or consume marijuana.
• You can grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption.
• Because regulations must still be put in place and because licenses must be issued for sales, marijuana won’t be available for sale for about another year.
• Use of marijuana will not be allowed in public.
• You can still get into trouble with the law for driving under the influence of marijuana.
• Employers can still maintain a zero-tolerance policy for drug use, including marijuana use.
• Michigan voters legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in 2008.
• Outside of a person’s residence, the amount of marijuana that can be possessed is limited to 2.5 ounces. Any more than that must be in a secured, locked container.
• Violations of the possession limits would be considered civil infractions, unless a more serious crime is suspected.
• Specific municipalities can restrict or ban marijuana businesses.
• Commercial sales of marijuana and edibles are subject to a 10 percent tax for schools, roads, and municipalities.
• So far, there is no provision to dismiss or overturn prior convictions and fines related to the past illegal use of marijuana.
How St. Clair County Residents Voted
St. Clair County residents’ votes about the recreational marijuana use proposal mirrored those of the overall state.
Statewide, more than 4 million voters cast ballots. Of that number, 2,346,713 people voted to change Michigan recreational marijuana use laws, while 1,851,679 people voted against the proposal. That’s about a 56-44 percent margin.
In St. Clair County, 36,007 voters said “yes” while 31,479 voted “no,” which is a 53-47 percent margin.
In the city of Port Huron specifically, the result was 5,844 yes votes to 3,503 no votes, while the tally in Port Huron Township was 2,067 to 1,803.
Tags: Legalize Marijuana, Port Huron Laws, Recreational Marijuana, St. Clair County Election Results