The state of Michigan has until December to come up with rules and regulations so they can begin to hand out licenses for the recreational sale of marijuana. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is looking for volunteers to help with developing these rules and regulations that will govern the recreational market. Commercial sales of marijuana are expected to start early next year, and recreational use will be available for those who are at least 21. Back in November, voters approved the ballot proposal to legalizes the use, possession and licensed sales of recreational marijuana. People will also be able to grow up to 12 plants each.
Michigan’s Marijuana Work Groups
The Bureau of Marijuana Regulation, a division of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is organizing four stakeholder work groups. One of the groups that the state will work with includes people who already have a license for medical marijuana businesses and would like to expand into the recreational market. The medical marijuana businesses that have state licenses will have first dibs on the recreational licenses. The second group the state hopes to work with are the municipalities that are considering licensed recreational facilities in their communities. 114 communities have currently passed ordinances allowing medical marijuana businesses and those communities are expected to allow recreational marijuana businesses, although some communities have the right to prohibit marijuana businesses. Another of the groups the state plans to work with are attorneys who represent marijuana clients who are interested in getting into the recreational market. The last group are the individuals or businesses who are interested in participating in the recreational marijuana market as a licensed business or just a regular marijuana consumer.
How to Apply for a Work Group
Anyone who is interested in participating in a work group must apply by March 4th by 9 a.m. If you believe you qualify and would like to apply for one of the work groups, you would need to submit an email to LARA-MedicalMarijuana@michigan.gov titled WORK GROUP in the subject line.
Applicants should include:
- The name of the work group they are interested in participating in: Licensees, municipalities, attorneys, or individual/business.
- Your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, occupation, job title, and the name of the employer or organization with which you are affiliated.
- A brief explanation detailing your qualifications for the stakeholder work group.
The selections for the groups will take place Monday March 11. Work groups will be scheduled for the end of March. If you are chosen for a group, you will be notified on the date, time and location.
The purpose of the workshops is meant to gather more information on regulatory topics only, as the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) start making up the rules related to the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act. Whether you participate in a work group or not, all public reviews and comments will be part of the rule making process.
