Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Michigan

Ever since pro-medical marijuana laws were first passed in America, it is now for the first time a majority of Americans are supporting the medical use of marijuana. The scenario is such that commercial marijuana sales have gone up to an estimate of $1.5 billion annually and experts believe this would go up to about 4 times by 2018.

Michigan is one of eighteen states where medical marijuana is legal. Since all states are governed by their own laws and regulations regarding medical marijuana, Michigan is no different. In Michigan medical pot is legal but according to the state law, pharmacies are prohibited from supplying it.

Medical marijuana and Michigan

Doctors do not directly prescribe use of marijuana in Michigan; instead they recommend it to patients (doctors support the use of medicinal marijuana) if they feel marijuana can benefit patients despite its side effects. Doctors write a letter in recommendation of marijuana explaining why the patient should use it. Patients either have to keep this letter handy or have medical cannabis ID cards made to be legally able to consume marijuana as medication.

Some quick reads about legal use of marijuana in Michigan:

• The law legalizing use of medical marijuana in Michigan was passed on November 4, 2008

• Patient with recommendation letter or ID card is exempted from arrest and prosecution by law (for use and possession of marijuana)

• Registry from patients and caregivers is provided by the state department of Community health

• Permissible marijuana quantity a person can possess is 2.5 ounce and 12 plants in case the patient is growing marijuana at home

• One patient can have only one caregiver, though one caregiver can have five patients under him

• Dispensaries in Michigan are not provided for in the state law, but some municipalities license and regulate dispensaries

Dispensaries in Michigan

Since marijuana isn’t supplied over the counter of a conventional pharmacy, there is no insurance cover for it. Patients however are permitted to cultivate their own marijuana. Patients can otherwise turn to caregiver for their marijuana supplies.

In addition, there are dispensaries in Michigan therefrom patients can get their supply of medical marijuana easily. There are a few legal dispensaries in Michigan, which are also known as cannabis clubs or co-ops. Dispensaries also call themselves as collective. They claim that the cannabis sold through them is grown by members – who are medical marijuana patients themselves.

Patients with valid recommendation letter from a doctor, or an applicable ID card can on representing either at the dispensary get their does of medical marijuana. On representing the card or recommendation letter, patients can purchase medical marijuana in various forms – raw from for smoking or in marijuana-based products like chocolates, cakes, cookies and shakes etc.

Why medical marijuana?

One very usual question associated with medical marijuana is that why should patients use it when there are so many other legal medications available? Advocators believe that laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana believe that certain symptoms and diseases can be best treated with marijuana.