Ingham County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Ingham County?

Yes, it is legal to cultivate marijuana in Ingham County. Michigan voters approved the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act in 2018. Michigan is the first Midwestern state to permit and legalize marijuana use for both medical and recreational purposes. A marijuana grower, as defined by the Act, is a person who is licensed to cultivate marijuana, sell marijuana, and transfer marijuana to marijuana establishments.

It is legal to grow marijuana outdoors and in greenhouses. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has established Rule 6 of Marijuana Operations, which states that outdoor spaces where marijuana plants are cultivated must be close to buildings and entirely surrounded by barriers or fences to keep the public from seeing marijuana plants. Only authorized people and emergency workers should have access to the fences, which must be maintained closed and safe. Additionally, marijuana businesses are only allowed to store, process, test, or grow marijuana at the physical address that has been approved and licensed by the department.

There are three different categories of marijuana grower licenses available to marijuana businesses, each of which permits the growing of different quantities of marijuana plants:

• Class A: a maximum of 100 marijuana plants

• Class B: a maximum of 500 marijuana plants

• Class C: a maximum of 2,000 marijuana plants

Furthermore, Ingham County permits home cultivation. An adult who is over 21 may legally grow up to 12 plants on each housing property. The maximum number of marijuana plants that can be grown in a home, even with two adults residing there, is still 12 plants. Marijuana grown at home should be maintained securely and kept out of sight from the public.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Ingham County?

Yes, it is legal to manufacture marijuana in Ingham County. According to Section 9 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, marijuana manufacturing businesses must submit an application to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In order to confirm that the applicant and business location are qualified for state licenses and conform with the law, the department will send a copy of the business application to the municipality where the marijuana facility is located as soon as it receives the entire application. The department will then either grant the applicable state license or, if it does not approve the licensing application, will send a denial letter within 90 days.

In accordance with Section 9 of the Act, a proposed marijuana facility's location cannot be on property that is zoned for residential use. Until the municipality approves an ordinance reducing its distance requirements, it cannot be located closer than 1,000 feet to private or public schools offering kindergarten through grade 12 schooling.

All facility entrances, including those used by manufacturers, must be secured to let only staff and those who have been given access by the marijuana facility, such as department or state agents, local law enforcement officials, and emergency personnel. It is also important to remember that volunteers and employees at the marijuana facility must be at least 21 years old.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Ingham County?

Ingham County has legalized the retail sale of cannabis. Any person under 21 who has a Patient Registry Card issued by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) is allowed to use or consume marijuana for medical reasons. However, only individuals aged 21 and up are permitted for recreational use.

According to Section 11 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, no marijuana retailer is allowed to offer edibles or candy that contains marijuana in forms or packaging that appeal to children, or that could be confused for commonly found candies that do not contain marijuana. No marijuana retailer is allowed to sell marijuana that isn't contained in child-proof, opaque packaging.

Cannabis is legal to use and sell in Ingham County as topical preparations, beverages, tinctures, and edibles. Each adult over the age of 21 may buy up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. However, possessing more than 15 grams of cannabis concentrate at one time is not allowed. The amount of cannabis flowers you can keep at home in a secure location is up to 10 ounces.

Cannabis and products related to cannabis are not allowed to be consumed in public. Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden to drive while under the influence of cannabis. Cannabis cannot be transported over state lines by residents.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Ingham County?

Yes. Cannabis products may be delivered to customers by businesses with marijuana licenses. The staff of licensed marijuana establishments may deliver marijuana to qualified patients (for medical use) or people over 21 (for recreational use) at a residential location or the vicinity of a consumption establishment, according to Rule 7 of Marijuana Operations. However, the staff must confirm that the patient has a medical marijuana card and is registered in the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program. They must also confirm that the recreational marijuana user is indeed 21 years of age or older.

Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, Section 11, states that licensed marijuana retailers are not allowed to deliver more than 15 ounces of marijuana or more than 60 grams of marijuana concentrate at a time.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Ingham County

In Michigan and Ingham County, the following medical conditions qualify for medical marijuana use:

• Parkinson's Disease

• Tourette's Disease

• Glaucoma

• Crohn's Disease

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Cancer

• Arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Nail Patella

• Severe Nausea

• Spinal Cord Injury

• AIDS

• Agitation of Alzheimer's Disease

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Ulcerative Colitis

• Colitis

• Hepatitis C

• HIV Positive

• Chronic Pain

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Cerebral Palsy

• Autism

• Severe and Chronic Pain

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome

• A chronic or debilitating illness, or its treatment, that results in at least one of severe and persistent muscle spasms like multiple sclerosis, or seizures, including epilepsy

Applicants for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program must be residents of Michigan, be at least 18 years of age, and have one of the qualifying medical conditions stated above determined by a Michigan-licensed physician. Once you have received your doctor's approval, please submit all relevant documentation and the $40 application fee to:

• www.michigan.gov/mmp or

• Via mail:

State of Michigan - MMMP

PO Box 40083

Lansing MI, 48909

Minor applicants must fill out a paper application because they are submitting with a caregiver (the legal guardian or parent responsible for making health decisions).

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Ingham County?

Cannabis sales in Michigan are subject to a 10% excise tax in addition to the state's 6% sales tax, according to Section 13 of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. The law further specifies that funds generated by marijuana sales shall be allocated as follows:

• 15% for counties where marijuana microbusinesses or retail outlets are situated

• 15% for municipalities where marijuana microbusinesses or retail outlets are situated

• 35% for school assistance funds, allocated for K–12 education

• 35% to the Michigan Transportation Fund for road and bridge maintenance and repairs

The Michigan Department of Treasury stated in 2021 that sales of marijuana for adult use had surpassed $1.1 billion. The 10% excise tax on recreational marijuana brought in $111 million, of which $42.2 million was given to local governments, $49.3 million went to the School Assistance Fund, and $49.3 million went to the Michigan Transportation Fund.

Ingham County has 19 licensed marijuana businesses, and as part of the marijuana statute, Michigan State gave the county more than $1,072,000. This information is based on marijuana sales in Michigan during the fiscal year 2021. The statistic confirms that marijuana contributes to Ingham County's economy.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Ingham County

According to the FBI crime report, data generated from the Ingham County Sheriff's Office shows decreased DUI arrests for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019, from 111 to 95 and 80, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of marijuana-related arrests in 2017, 2018, and 2019 varied from 18 to 5 and 11 cases, respectively.

It is worth noting that recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan in 2018.