Michigan Lawmakers Planning to Tighten Medical Marijuana Laws

Michigan lawmakers are planning to change or clarify the state law that allows marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Still in the drafting process, the proposed bills would require stronger doctor-patient relationships before a patient could gain access to marijuana and would also likely reduce the number of Michigan’s marijuana dispensaries. Because the law was passed by the state’s voters, some of the proposed legislative changes will require three-fourths majorities in both the state’s House and Senate.

Government, police, patients, and businesses have claimed to be confused by the language of the law as it was passed, and one of the reasons cited to change the law is the need for law enforcement officers to understand just exactly what is legal and what is not. While businesses contend that nothing in state law prohibits dispensaries or collective marijuana growing facilities, some local communities have decided to either outlaw such facilities or hamper their establishment by placing them under heavy zoning regulations.

One of the aspects of the proposed legislative changes is a set of guidelines to be followed for the zoning of medical marijuana dispensaries. Another proposal is a prohibition on those convicted of a felony being certified as caregivers in relation to the dispensing of medicinal marijuana. Lawmakers are also considering making it a felony for a physician to knowingly give false certification of a patient’s debilitating condition and to knowingly submit false information on an application for a patient or caregiver card.

At the same time, the Michigan Supreme Court is preparing to hear a couple of criminal cases regarding medical marijuana. In one it will consider the meaning of the requirement that marijuana be kept in an “enclosed, locked facility.” In the other, the requirement of a doctor-patient relationship to get authorization to use marijuana for medical purposes could be addressed.