Michigan’s new medical marijuana laws take effect

New medical marijuana laws went into effect in Michigan this week.

The laws legalize medical cannabis dispensaries, regulate cultivation and processing operations and enhance legal protections to patients who have been recommended to use edibles or oils rather than smokable marijuana.

The laws also include an additional category for cannabis-infused products, as well as an added tax on dispensaries and a state licensing system to cultivate, sell, transport and test cannabis. The laws also institute a seed-to-sale monitoring system.

Michigan’s medical marijuana laws haven’t been updated since voters legalized medical marijuana in 2008.

Also this week, the Michigan appeals court ruled that the state’s MMJ law protects anyone accused of illegally transporting marijuana.

Earlier this year, Michigan’s MMJ program came under fire after an audit found that only a few doctors were responsible for approving tens of thousands of patients for MMJ.