Michigan News - January 2019 - by Meghan Smith

Name Regulation

The Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, the state department that regulates the marijuana industry, is dropping an M. It is changing on all platforms to The Bureau of Marijuana Regulation. The department is in charge of coming up with the rules and regulations that will govern the fledgling recreational marijuana industry.

“While many other states have various licensing, regulation, and patient programs spread throughout different departments and agencies, BMR will keep marijuana-related services in one place in order to best enhance consumer protections and make regulations more efficient for business customers," said Shelly Edgerton, director of the state's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Legal documents will not recognise the change of the way marijuana is spelled, but the department is embracing the more common spelling of marijuana as opposed to marihuana, and recreation use will be referred to as adult-use.

Berkley Garage Explosion

A Berkley man faces criminal charges after his garage explodes while illegally producing marijuana wax. The garage was completely leveled but did not burn. Police and fire fighters determined the source of the explosion was a result of a build up of butane vapors that reached an ignition source. The suspect sustained burns from the explosion, but fled the scene before police arrived. However, the male resident was interviewed the next day as part of the fire department's investigation.

Former Detroit Lions Players Denied

Former Detroit Lions football players Calvin Johnson and Rob Sims had their request to begin growing medical marijuana in Michigan denied on Friday.The partners  The partners were denied upon applying for four licenses due to Johnson’s history of traffic violations. A sorted past of speeding tickets, driving without a license, and not wearing a seatbelt we on the list of traffic offenses. It was stated that based on his past he does not display respect for the law, and therefore cannot be granted licenses for the business.CRJJA Ventures says they are going to appeal the decision, and an attorney for the business said Michigan's denial has no legal basis.

Early K-9 Retirement

With the legalization of Marijuana, K-9 units trained in drug detection may be pushed into early retirement. By one estimate, there are some 400 police K-9s in Michigan. The dogs are usually cross trained, but It’s unclear how many are trained in drug detection.

The dogs have been trained to detect and alert their human partner to the presence of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs. To avoid potential problems involving drug busts and marijuana, other states who have legalized marijuana have retired their canines early.
Michigan State Police have announced they are not retiring any of their dogs, and will have work for them, in places where marijuana is still illegal, like schools. The future of other police departments K-9 units in the state are yet to be known.

State licensing board changes name to reflect Recreational Cannabis 

After the passing of recreational cannabis laws, the state has had to make a few adjustments; one of those adjustments including the changing of the licensing agency. The Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation will be dropping an M, and shall become simply The Bureau of Marijuana Regulation.

The department also announced that they will be adopting the more common spelling of ‘Marijuana’ versus the outdated ‘Marihuana’, as well as has also revamped the website to facilitate both medical marijuana patients, as well as recreational marijuana patrons alike. Shelly Edgerton, director of the state's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs said “While many other states have various licensing, regulation, and patient programs spread throughout different departments and agencies, BMR will keep marijuana-related services in one place in order to best enhance consumer protections and make regulations more efficient for business customers,"

Newly Passed Recreational Cannabis Laws Created Some Confusion

On December 6th 2018 recreational marijuana became legal in the state of MI, however there was quite a bit of confusion regarding what exactly that entailed. The law allows for adults over the age of 21 to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, and to grow up to 12 plants in their own home, However the use of cannabis on federal property, school property, or in a public setting is still banned, as well as the sale or purchase of cannabis is also currently illegal.

Provisioning centers across the state were inundated with phone calls and walk ins inquiring about whether they can come in to purchase cannabis without a medical card. The Reef, Detroit's largest medical marijuana dispensary reported upwards of 400 inbound calls within the first two days of the passing of the recreational law. The sad fact is that despite cannabis being recreational, there is not yet a recreational sales market set up yet. Provisioning centers are still for medical card holders only, and licensing for any recreational facilities is not expected to be finalized until 2020.

Municipalities Opting out of Recreational Cannabis 

With the recent passing of recreational marijuana in Michigan, communities were given the option to allow cannabis businesses within their borders, with the tax revenue of those businesses being allocated to the schools and roads in that community as an incentive. Many communities have chosen to opt out due to concern for regulations and how things will eventually be handled, but with the option to opt back in after things have been sorted out. The individual municipalities were encouraged to inform the state licensing board, LARA, but were not required to do so. Cities like Troy, Pontiac, Livonia, Birmingham and Monroe have opted out but are not on the list.

Currently, the following communities have officially opted out and the list continues to grow;
Cheshire Township, Overisel Township, Three Oaks Township, Coldwater Township, Newberg Township, Volinia Township, Sault Ste Marie, Dallas Township, Greenbush Township, Ironwood, Ingham Township, Williamston, Caspian, Nottawa Township, Brady Township, Charleston Township, Portage, Prairie Ronde Township, Ada Township, Cleveland Township, Fairfield Township, Oceola Township, Pentland Township, Village of Armada, Frenchtown Charter Township, Ashland Township, Village of Milford, Northville, Grant Township, Bridgehampton Township, Brown City, Village of Carsonville, Elmer Township, Flynn Township, Lamotte Township, Maple Valley Township, Marlette, Village of Melvin, Minden Township, Village of Port Sanilac, Sandusky, Speaker Township, Washington Township, Watertown Township, Algonac, Burtchville Township , Casco Township, Columbus Township, Kenockee Township, Richmond, St. Clair and St. Clair township, Mottville Township, Sherman Township, Sturgis Township, Tuscola Township, Geneva Township, Allen Park, Grosse Pointe, and Plymouth.