Michigan City Heavily Regulates Medical Marijuana Sale

Medical marijuana is becoming more widely accepted, with medical marijuana dispensaries operating legally in numerous states and localities. The small city of Marshall, Michigan, however, is one of those few areas that seem to be moving backwards in terms of acceptance, rather than forward.

Despite the fact that Michigan voters passed the Medical Marijuana Act in 2008, allowing the sale of marijuana to qualifying patients, Marshall legislators are still looking for loopholes to shield against its use. Their most recent attempt relates to the sale through registered dispensaries.

According to Paul Beardslee, City Attorney, and the Michigan Appeals Court, the Act should not be interpreted to allow private marijuana shops. The new law being introduced will make these types of shops illegal, and create a different type of dispensary.

According to new legislation, a legitimate medical marijuana operation must now be run by no more than two registered caregivers. These two staff members can service up to ten different patients, but cannot expand their customer base beyond that.

Despite the fact that Marshall voters helped pass the Medical Marijuana Act, many are still under the impression that this is a dangerous drug. They offer no evidence of this claim, however, as those areas that do allow private dispensaries do not appear more dangerous than those that don't.

This new law is a step backward in the fight for medical marijuana rights, but is also presents hope to those who aim for continued acceptance. The new law, after all, does not entirely prohibit the sale of medical marijuana, nor does it make prescriptions more difficult to obtain. It does make the buying and selling of marijuana more difficult, however, which should not be ignored.

As of yet, this legislation does not appear to be having a great effect on surrounding municipalities, who continue to allow traditional dispensaries to operate. This remains good news, and hopefully news will continue to show increased acceptance, rather than more attempts to maintain outdated legislation.