Whitmer administration changing tone around Michigan marijuana regulation

Bridge Magazine

As Michigan moves toward legal sale of recreational marijuana in 2020, new developments in pot regulation only reinforce expectation the industry will find a more sympathetic ear in Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The most obvious evidence is her backing of Proposal 1, which state voters approved in November to legalize recreational weed.

But Whitmer has now weighed in on the regulatory mess surrounding medical marijuana, successfully pushing last week to reopen 70 shuttered dispensariesthrough the end of March while they seek state licenses.

After prodding from Whitmer and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs(LARA), the state’s medical marijuana licensing board voted to allow dozens of the medical dispensaries to reopen. That brings the number of these storefront retail outlets to 104 ‒ where there once had been 300.

“This is certainly a step in the right direction,” Matthew Abel, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Bridge Magazine.  For more information:  https://www.bridgemi.com/public-sector/whitmer-administration-changing-tone-around-michigan-marijuana-regulation