New Revision on the Medical Marijuana Law in Michigan: The Three New Rules 2015

The subject about medical marijuana being used for medicinal purposes has long been taken care of and formalized in some parts of the world. Michigan is just some of the places in the world and states in the United States where marijuana is legal for medical use. 

In fact, Michigan is one of the earliest states that passed and implement the medical marijuana law. To be specific, it was the thirteenth state to have a medical marijuana law. Looking back, it was on the fourth of November, 2008 when 63% of the Michigan voters had passed the Proposal 1.

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The proposal shows to grant certain patients who are with defined medical conditions and under medical supervision to have the right to alleviate symptoms by using marijuana. It was a month after the proposal was passed when the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act took effect, on the fourth of December, 2008. 

The act legalized two things. The first one was what the Michigan voters proposed, which is legalizing the use of marijuana for certain patients. The second was concerned about allowing patients as well as their primary caregiver to possess or grow a limited quantity of marijuana plants. 

Presently, this allowed amount entails the quantity of 2.5 ounces marijuana as well as a maximum of 12 marijuana plants. Aside from these two, the law also included a registry identification card system for the qualifying patients and the primary caregivers. 

Over the years, after the law’s legalization, the state of Michigan also saw a lot of revisions made concerning the rules that governs medical marijuana in the area. The first of these revisions took place in 2012 and the next one happened the following year.

By 2014, revisions were again made in these rules. Presently, the new rules are now in effect since the fifteenth of January, 2015. There were a total of three new rules stated in the revised law. These are:

• Establish a reduced application fee from $100 to $60 for all the qualifying patients
• Eradicate the decreased $25 application fee
• Require caregivers to pay an amount of $25 for the processing fee for every criminal background check required of them

As said, the new rules started taking effect and began with its implementation on January 15, 2015. Because of these changes, one thing was required from the applicants specifically those who applied for the registry on or following the date of the new rules’ implementation. These applicants are required to use the new forms that can be found at the government states’ official website at www.michigan.gov/mmp.

Some Issues Met with the New Medical Marijuana Rules in Michigan Following its Taking Effect

The reduced 2-year registration fee from $100 to $60 may seem like good news for everyone, or for patients needing access to medical marijuana to help relieve their symptoms. But criticisms were heard because of the planned removal of the reduced fee rate by LARA for those residents who are qualified to receive full Medicaid or Supplemental social Security benefits.   

In the eyes of patients with low income, this could mean and increase of registration fees from $25 to $60. As a result, this will make it more difficult for these patients to have access to the drug. 

This was done because of the new law signed by Rick Snyder that allows any government agency whom gives money to these high need patients through Medicaid or Medicare or social security to be removed from any government subsidies if they test positive for Marijuana. It was Bill Schutte’s way of bypassing the law and making it impossible for the people whom really need the medical marijuana to get it. Now they will have to choose between their medicine or government payments. Go Republicans!

Another issue was the required payment fees to be made by the caregivers for their criminal background check. This fee was shouldered by patients to verify their caregivers’ eligibility. This may be an advantage on the patients’ part. But, it may not be viewed similarly in the eyes of the caregivers who want to obtain a certification for growing medical marijuana.

Want to know more about Michigan Medical Marijuana and how to grow cannabis. Watch all the videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxS9ocS2vCzoPnrp37K3YQ/videos to become a pro at Marijuana growing!