Michiganders Approve Medical Marijuana Law

On November 4, 63% of Michigan voters approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, removing criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana. The majority of voters in each of Michigan’s 83 counties approved the act. This statewide victory for patients followed on the heels of five citywide medical marijuana votes. Medical marijuana won in a landslide (with 62% in Flint in February 2007; with 63% in Traverse City and 61% in Ferndale in November 2005; with 74% in Ann Arbor in November 2004; and with 60% in Detroit in August 2004).

Patient and caregiver applications now available from MDCH!

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) ’s rules for implementing the state’s medical marijuana ID card program are now final, and on April 6 the MDCH began accepting applications from qualifying patients and caregivers for registry identification cards, which will protect them from arrest. Application forms, which include written certification forms for patients’ physicians, can be found here.

Check out our educational brochure for Michigan doctors and patients

If you are a Michigan patient with a condition that qualifies under Initiated Law 1 of 2008 (formerly called Proposal 1), you can talk to your doctor about whether writing a recommendation for medical marijuana is the right thing for you and your specific illness. The Marijuana Policy Project has created a brochure to assist you in educating your doctor about his or her rights under Initiated Law 1 of 2008 and what is involved in writing you a recommendation.

Download a pdf of this brochure

For more helpful information specifically on medical marijuana and your condition, please use www.mpp.org/research to help you talk to your doctor.

Proposal 1 wins 63% - 37%!

We'd like to express our enormous gratitude to all of our supporters across the state. Thanks to your commitment, seriously ill Michiganders who use medical marijuana with their doctors' recommendation will no longer face the threat of arrest and jail.

Qualifying patients whose doctors recommend medical marijuana can now apply to the MDCH for ID cards, which will protect them from arrest if they are in compliance with the law. Initiated Law 1 of 2008 also provides an affirmative defense, which can be raised by both registered and unregistered seriously ill patients in court.

The Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Lansing State Journal, Battle Creek Enquirer, Jackson City Patriot, Michigan Chronicle, and Detroit Metro Times Endorsed Proposal 1. A majority of voters in each of Michigan's 83 counties approved the initiative making Michigan the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest.