Michigan has a long history of being a cannabis friendly state, at least in certain areas. Beginning in the 1970's, Ann Arbor has boasted some of the most lenient cannabis laws in the country, with it being largely decriminalized before most other cities and states. So it should be no surprise that Michigan was once again one of the earlier states to legalize medical cannabis (and the first in the Midwest), with the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative of 2008. This law made it possible for patients to possess as much as 2.5 ounces of cannabis with physician approval. While it did not allow for medical dispensaries at the time, patients and caregivers were also permitted to grow up to 12 plants at a time.

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As for recreational cannabis, it wasn't until November of 2018 that legalization made it onto the ballot as a voter initiative. Known as Proposal 1, it passed with a 56 percent to 44 percent margin. The measure made it possible for recreational dispensaries to open in December of 2019, meaning that Michigan was the 10th state to legalize cannabis in the United States. According to The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, it is permissible for people who are 21 and over to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis in public, as much as 10 ounces at home, and to grow 12 plants at a time. The act also established rules for the cultivation, distribution, and taxation of cannabis. Because the law went into effect just a few months prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's difficult to say how this has impacted the market, either positively or negatively, so there's no telling what the future of cannabis in Michigan has in store.

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Also of note, the law allows for local municipalities to fully prohibit or restrict the number of cannabis businesses within their boundaries. This adds an extra layer of challenges for Michigan cannabis companies, though I won't bother listing specific cities here because the local rules are liable to change at any time.