The decision to legalize marijuana in Michigan will be put to the vote in November. In recognition of that upcoming major move, the language for the description of the bill has been finalized.
The 100 words permitted on the law will be as follows:
“A proposed initiated law to authorize and legalize possession; use and cultivate marijuana products by individuals who are at least 21 years of age and older, and commercial sales of marijuana through state-licensed retailers.”
Individuals who are age 21 or older will be able to purchase, use, and even grow as many as 12 plants of marijuana in the state. Residents will be permitted to keep a maximum of 10 ounces of marijuana at their home, with more than 2.5 ounces safely stored in a locked container.
A state licensing system will be created, and municipalities will have the opportunity to ban or restrict said licenses.
This particular caveat of the law will reinforce the interest of rural communities, where changes regarding lifestyle and economy will start to become notable first. This was the case in Colorado, where a small community called Pueblo County had to impose a temporary cap to the licenses issued for the area.
More than a dozen small cannabis growth businesses have taken up shop in the area in the last two years, including one called Strawberry Fields, which boasts two acres of marijuana plants growing strong within a greenhouse in the county.
The cannabis industry has had positive impacts in the area, creating new jobs. Cannabis producers have joined the local chamber of commerce, showing a commitment to the area’s economy and a desire to connect locally.
However, not all of the changes from the influx of cannabis growers has been positive. The county, previously synonymous with crops like the green chile, are becoming known for their significant contributions to the cannabis industry. Meanwhile, people within the county are failing drug tests at a higher rate, crime has increased, and residents are no longer proud of the area they call home. Efforts have been made to repeal the drug laws in effect in the county; however, those efforts were not successful.
For similar rural communities in Michigan, it might be worth researching the impact on areas like Pueblo County, Colorado. The effort could help in learning from the mistakes of other areas, before a similar reality comes to pass for Michigan residents.
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