Before the legalization of medical marijuana in Michigan, possession conviction resulted in hefty fines and jail time in some instances. While possession punishments ranged from $2,000 in fines and up to a year in jail, distribution and cultivation charges were much steeper. Depending on the amount of cannabis and the operation’s scale, defendants battling prosecution faced punishments as harsh as 10 million dollars in fines and 15 years in jail!
This all changed in November of 2008 when Michigan voters passed Proposal 1 (the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative) on the voters’ ballot. The new law allowed patients with a doctor’s approval to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for medical treatment to specific qualifying ailments. Even though the initiative didn’t legalize cannabis dispensaries, it did permit cannabis patients or their designated caregivers to cultivate upwards of 12 mature cannabis plants. While the ballot faced some opposition in Michigan, it ultimately passed by an overwhelming majority, which made Michigan the first of the midwestern states to legalize medical marijuana.
Ten years after legalizing medical cannabis, Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana recreationally. November 6th, 2018, Proposal 1 was voted into law by the Voters of Michigan, permitting residents over the age of 21 to possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana on their person, 10 ounces in their home, and grow upwards of 12 mature cannabis plants in their residence.
Michigan is home to some of the country's best forests and beaches. If you love the outdoors, Michigan offers some of the best in the country.
In Michigan, you can find an array of beautiful outdoor experiences such as Isle Royale National Park, Mackinac Island, Windmill Island, Belle Isle Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, and the Tawas Point State Park. Unsurprisingly, more than half the state is covered with lush, green forest.
However, much of the state’s heart and soul can be found in the legendary motor city, Detroit. The city stands as a relic of industrial factories and is still home to companies like the Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler, and Cadillac. Detroit was the center of the industrial revolution, which gives the city this raw, gritty feel to it but in a great way.
The great state of Michigan is surrounded by some of the county’s most beautiful lakes. Lakes like Superior and Michigan and its extraordinary lake islands make the state a fantastic place to go and enjoy nature.
Michigan offers a unique array of options and things to do between its beautifully scenic views and its history for industry and development.
