What’s Next For Michigan Medical Marijuana Patients Now That Michigan Has Legalized Recreational Marijuana?
This is the question on every Michigan medical marijuana card holder’s mind as the state is forced to transition into a recreational based marijuana system as prescribed by voters in the recent mid-term elections.
While this is a huge win for the cannabis community, some medical marijuana patients are wondering, “What’s the point in continuing to be a registered medical marijuana card holder?”
The answers are simple.
Nothing has changed with respect to the protections afforded to medical marijuana card holders. Let’s examine the main reasons for having a medical marijuana card in a recreational marijuana environment in Michigan:
- No Access: The state of Michigan will have up to 24 months (2 years) to create the rules for the recreational marijuana program before residents 21 year of age or older can acquire legal marijuana from a licensed facility. The state will have to go back to the drawing board to design a process for licensing, processing, and distribution before retail sales will be allowed. As of right now, most attorneys are predicting the rules to be created by year 2021.
- The state of Michigan will be levying a hefty 14% (percent of gross sale) use tax along with a 6% (percent of gross sale) retail sales tax which could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the state of Michigan. Medical marijuana card holders avoid paying taxes on any recreational marijuana.
- Long waits at dispensaries have been a problem for every state that has passed recreational laws. Inevitably the mass adoption of marijuana consumption leads to medical marijuana card holders having to wait in long lines and limiting their access to varieties of medical grade strains. In Michigan, medical marijuana card holders will bypass the long lines of recreational users and receive priority access to the highest quality medical cannabis first.
- Medical marijuana cardholders who are also caregivers will be allowed to possess more medical marijuana than recreational users. With a medical marijuana caregiver card, caregivers will also be able to hold an additional 2.5 oz of medical marijuana and 12 additional plants for each registered patient they are assisting.
- More legal protections will be afforded to medical marijuana card holders than for the recreational user. A registered medical marijuana card holder cannot be punished in any way whatsoever for the medical use of marijuana (in accordance with the law). And while the federal government has backed off registered medical marijuana patients, they have done just the opposite to those who use the recreational system, often times trying to pursue federal charges instead of prosecution under the state’s law.
So all in all, the benefits and protections afforded to registered Michigan medical marijuana patients will easily outweigh the hazards associated with the state of Michigan launching yet another tax scheme to control and regulate marijuana.
Do you qualify for a Michigan medical marijuana card? Click here to pre-qualify now and get legal today!
First Natural offers risk-free referral access to the fastest, most discreet Bona Fide Medical Marijuana evaluations throughout Michigan. We have helped over 78,000 patients get legal and stay protected since 2009. Our network of highly qualified and compassionate physicians are board certified and Michigan licensed. Shouldn't you have access to the highest quality medical Marijuana? Why wait? Get legal now! Call 866-649-9034 for an appointment today! Or go to our website at First Natural Online