michigan medical cannabis Archives

Michigan Panel Recommends Adding 10 New Conditions to State’s Medical Cannabis Program

May 7, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Review Panel has recommended adding 10 new conditions to the list that qualifies an individual to become a legal medical cannabis patient.

The panel was recently presented with 22 medical conditions to consider adding to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program, which was approved by voters in 2008. Out of these 22, the panel recommended that the state add 10 to the program. These include chronic pain, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Tourettes syndrome and spinal cord injury.

The board’s recommendations now go to Shelly Edgerton, director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Edgerton has until July 10 to make her final decision.

Michigan Governor Signs Legislation Legalizing Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder today signed a trio of bills (House Bills 4209, 4210 and 4827) that will legalize licensed and regulated medical cannabis dispensaries, which will be authorized to sell cannabis and cannabis-infused products (such as edibles) to qualified patients.

“This new law will help Michiganders of all ages and with varying medical conditions access safe products to relieve their suffering,” said Governor Snyder.

“We can finally implement a solid framework that gives patients a safe source from which to purchase and utilize medical marijuana.”

Michigan Senate Passes Bills to Legalize Medical Cannabis Dispensaries and Edibles

September 8, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

By Emily Lawler, Michigan Live, Republished with Special Permission

The Michigan Senate on Thursday moved suddenly to legalize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and non-smokable forms of the drug, discharging the bill from committee consideration and taking it up on the floor.

The bills work in concert to address the effects of court rulings that have left marijuana dispensaries and edibles in a legal grey area.

The bills would legalize and regulate dispensaries, drawing on the state’s alcohol regulations as a guide. The bills would also establish a “seed-to-sale” tracking system for medical marijuana.

Michigan Cops Use Medical Cannabis Money To Buy Themselves I-Pads, Truck, Shirts

November 18, 2015November 18, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

By Rick Thompson, The Compassion Chronicles

LAPEER- Much of the money allocated to law enforcement in 2015 from the Michigan Medical Marihuana Fund went unused, a governmental report shows, and those funds that were spent were used for questionable purposes.

Legislation passed in 2013 (HB 5313) and signed into law in 2014 by Governor Snyder allowed money from the state’s Medical Marihuana Fund (the Fund) to be used by local units of law enforcement “for the operation and oversight of the Michigan medical marihuana program… operation and oversight grants are for education, communication and enforcement of the Michigan medical marihuana act…”

Michigan House Approves Bills to Legalize Medical Cannabis Dispensaries and Edibles

October 7, 2015October 7, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

With a 95 to 11 vote, Michigan’s full House of Representatives gave approval today to a trio of bills that would establish a system of medical cannabis dispensaries and cultivation centers, while also legalizing the use and distribution of cannabis edibles such as brownies and tinctures.

House Bills 4209, 4210 and 4827 would legalize the distribution of medical cannabis through state-licensed dispensaries, which would get their cannabis from licensed cultivation centers. In addition to distributing dried cannabis flower, dispensaries will be authorized to distribute cannabis-infused products such as tinctures and cannabis cookies.

Michigan House Judiciary Committee Passes Bills to Legalize Medical Cannabis Edibles, Dispensaries

September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Michigan’s House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced a three-bill reform package to legalize medical cannabis dispensaries, allow for the use and distribution of medical cannabis in edible forms, and establish a tax on cannabis sales.

“This is something I’ve been working on longer than my bachelor’s degree,” said Representative Mike Callton (R-Nashville), who sponsored the dispensary bill. “It’s been essentially over 4 years, and it’s been an education. Now it’s better than it’s ever been.”

Michigan Official Rejects Allowing Medical Cannabis for Autism, Despite Panel Recommendation

August 28, 2015August 28, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

In July, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Review Panel, a panel that consists of all but one licensed physician, voted 4 to 2 to recommend adding autism as a condition that qualifies an individual to become a legal medical cannabis patient. Despite this recommendation, Mike Zimmer, Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (who was appointed by Governor Rick Synder), has rejected the recommendation, and refused to allow autism to become a qualifying condition (Zimmer has final say on the matter).

In his decision – which he outlined in a four-page paper titled Final Determination of Department – Zimmer stated that “While the record is replete with sincere and well-articulated testimony on the potential benefits of medical marihuana to autism patients and, in particular, parents of autistic children, several troubling concerns remain”. He notes that those with non-severe forms of autism would have been able to use the medicine. This, of course, shouldn’t be a problem if physicians believe it can help those who have the condition and decide to recommend it, especially considering that children with autism would have been required to receive the approval from two separate physicians and their parents before being able to use any cannabis-based medicines.

Michigan Panel Votes to Allow Medical Cannabis for Autism

August 2, 2015July 31, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Review Panel voted 4 to 2 today to add autism as a condition that qualifies an individual to become a medical cannabis patient.

The panel’s recommendation now heads to Mike Zimmer, Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, who has final say over whether or not autism is added as a medical cannabis condition. If Zimmer approves the recommendation, Michigan would be the first state in the nation to allow medical cannabis for autism.

Poll: 85% of Michiganders Want Children to Have Access to Medical Cannabis

July 21, 2015July 12, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

By Rick Thompson, The Compassion Chronicles

FLINT- A staggering 85% of respondents in an impartial MLive online poll said they want Michigan’s sick children to have access to medical marijuana.

The poll was conducted on July 6 with 2,295 people participating. A followup article detailed the results and included some comments from readers. 85.77% of respondents said ‘YES’ and 14.23% said ‘NO’ to the following question:

“Do you think minors should use medical marijuana?”

Michigan Court: Patients Can Receive Unemployment Compensation if Fired Over Cannabis

October 30, 2014October 28, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

In a groundbreaking decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday that workers in the state who are authorized medical cannabis patients should receive unemployment compensation if they were fired solely because they tested positive for cannabis.

“It’s a very favorable decision for the civil rights of employees in Michigan,” says Matt Abel, an attorney in Detroit who operates as the execusitve director of Michigan NORML. “This decision is another acknowledgment that medical-marijuana users’ rights have been unfairly infringed.”