Michigan

Mon
22
May

Michigan marijuana legalization ballot measure approved

The Michigan State Board of Canvassers approved an adult cannabis use approved a ballot measure for signature gathering. On Thursday, May 18th, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol was told they can now begin collecting the 252,523 signatures needed from registered Michigan voters. To get the measure on the general election ballot in November 2018, they need them by May 30, 2018.

Josh Hovey who is the spokesman for The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol said, “We’ve got petitions printed. We’re ready to go.”

Fri
19
May

Michigan OKs form of marijuana, prevailing wage petitions

Advocates of legalizing recreational marijuana use and repealing Michigan's prevailing-wage law cleared a procedural step Thursday and will quickly begin collecting signatures needed to send the bills to lawmakers and potentially voters.

The Board of State Canvassers approved the form of the groups' petitions. The ballot committees must gather about 252,000 valid voter signatures within a six-month period to submit the bills to the Republican-led Legislature.

Lawmakers likely would not act on the marijuana measure and instead let it go to a statewide vote in November 2018.

Mon
08
May

Medical marijuana company wants to invest millions into Bay County

An undisclosed medical marijuana company is looking at the former Dow Chemical Co. and Crane Resistoflex building at 4675 E. Wilder Road.Andrew Dodson | MLive File Photo  

A medical marijuana company has approached Bangor Township about investing $21 million to purchase and convert an old factory building into a grow and distribution facility.

But before the controversial industry comes to town, the township's board of trustees needs to throw its support behind it. A discussion takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at Bangor Township Hall, 180 State Park Drive. It's unclear at this time if the board is going to make any formal decisions on the matter Tuesday evening.

Mon
08
May

Michigan marijuana legalization question on 2018 Ballot?

Another push to legalize marijuana in Michigan could launch soon. On Friday, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol submitted petition language to the state Board of Canvassers for approval. If the group gets the nod, it will need to collect approximately 350,000 signatures from valid registered voters within 180 days to make Michigan’s 2018 ballot.

If ultimately approved by voters, the proposal would make recreational marijuana use legal. Purchases of up to 2.5 ounces would be allowed and individuals could keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana in their homes, the Detroit Free Press reported. But the proposal would also give communities the choice of whether or not to allow marijuana businesses.

Mon
01
May

Medical marijuana is about to become big business in southwest Michigan

Medical marijuana has been a recent hot topic in many southwest Michigan communities. And it’s about to become big business here, too.

Two proposed ventures for Buchanan could bring investments of $500,000 to $1 million to the small town.

And even larger, multimillion-dollar commercial cannabis operations in this blossoming industry recently decriminalized by the state of Michigan are being proposed for Galien Township.

For this rural community, it could amount to an economic shot in the arm — in property tax payments and jobs alone — if MedFarm of Michigan opens its midsized grow operation and processing plant here.

Mon
17
Apr

Michigan centralizes medical marijuana regulation under new bureau

Michigan has created the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation to centralize all aspects of medical marijuana regulation, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs reports. 

The new bureau, housed in LARA, combines the existing oversight functions of the state's patient and caregiver registry with the newly established statutory requirements for medical marijuana facility licensing. 

"BMMR's organizational structure puts Michigan at the forefront of state medical marijuana regulation," LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said. "Many other states have various licenses and patient programs spread throughout different departments and agencies." 

Thu
13
Apr

Michigan begins to gear up for medical marijuana business

Dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries are sprinkled in cities across the state, and Detroit has 61 pot shops open for business. But come this time next year, the landscape for weed around the state could be completely different.

That’s when the state will begin officially handing out licenses to growers, testing facilities, transporters and dispensaries.

The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is beginning to gear up for the task of regulating a new, and potentially very lucrative, business in the state. The medical marijuana business is projected to generate revenues of more than $700 million, and if a ballot proposal goes to voters in 2018 and the market is opened for recreational use, too, those revenues will easily surpass $1 billion.

Wed
12
Apr

How Entrepreneurs Are Using Tech to Connect a Discreet Marijuana Industry

Michigan's medicinal marijuana industry could rightly be described as experiencing growing pains. Overzealous law enforcement and the pervasive stigma attached to cannabis use can drive patients to live in the shadows, while growers have a reasonable reluctance to reveal the exact location of their operations for fear of theft. Amid such uncertainty, it can be hard for cannabis-related businesses to find even basic services like pot-friendly electricians or plumbers.

Mon
10
Apr

Medical Marijuana debate continues in Lansing, MI

Some say the controversial industry in Lansing is booming…others believe it should be banned but that depends on who you ask.

For Lansing City Pulse Editor Publisher Berl Schwartz, the positives of medical marijuana far outweigh the negatives.

“Lansing should be embracing it, this is a huge, huge economic opportunity for the city,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz says “the ordinance Lansing City Council is considering will kill the medical marijuana business in the city through the use of highly restrictive zoning.”

This is one reason he’s using his newspaper and social media to raise funds for Michigan State University to conduct a study to find out what kind of impact dispensaries have in the Capital City.

Mon
27
Mar

Michigan: Medical pot - from ballot to regulated industry

The medical marijuana industry is poised to explode with new state regulations and taxes on the dispensaries that will sell the weed. Kathleen Gray/Detroit Free Press

Nov. 4, 2008: Michigan voters pass a ballot proposal by a 63%-37% margin to allow the use of medical marijuana.

May 2012: State Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, introduces a bill that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in communities. The bill doesn't get a hearing.

February 2013: Callton  reintroduces a bill — HB 4271 — that would allow communities to determine whether and where medical marijuana dispensaries can be located.

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