Michigan Marijuana Friendly Cities

Michigan Marijuana Friendly Cities

What cities in Michigan have legalized marijuana?

Is possessing a small amount of marijuana on private property legal?

Michigan cities everywhere are speaking out, gathering signatures and working to decriminalize marijuana. In this past month, two additional Detroit suburbs have joined the list of cities that have voted and passed marijuana-related measures.

So which cities are they and is marijuana legal in all of them now?

Today, we are going to review which cities have voted and passed marijuana-related measures and what it means for you.

  1. Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor is one Michigan city that was ahead of its time. In 1972, Ann Arbor decriminalized marijuana after John Lennon and Yoko Ono came to the John Sinclair Freedom Rally.For more details on that story, please check out: Looking to Ann Arbor, Michigan to Decriminalize Marijuana.

    Today, possession of marijuana in Ann Arbor could land you a $25 ticket. The amount that can be possessed is not listed; however, back in 1972, the amount was two ounces or less.

  2. Detroit
    The Motor City has also already voted to decriminalize marijuana for those:

    • 21 Years or Older
    • Possessing an ounce or less.

    While Detroit’s residents have spoke out, please note that the Police Chief has said that he will continue to make marijuana arrests.

  3. Ferndale
    Similar measures have also been passed in Ferndale, Michigan. Like Detroit, it is legal for a resident to possess less than one ounce of marijuana on private property, providing the individual is 21 years old or older.
  4. Flint
    Voters in Flint, Michigan came out and received 60% of the votes to decriminalize marijuana. However, like Detroit, here is another city where police have chosen to follow state and federal laws.
  5. Grand Rapids
    As of May 2013, the possession of 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana has been reduced to a ticket citation in Grand Rapids.
  6. Kalamazoo
    The Raw Story reported that adults 21 or older who are caught in possession of one ounce of marijuana are subject to a fine of $100 and 93 days in jail.
  7. Lansing
    Like other cites, Lansing has passed a city charter change that now has legalized the possession of one ounce of marijuana or less on private property for adults 21 and older.
  8. Jackson
    Jackson, Michigan followed suit with Lansing to legalize the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana on private property for adults 21 and older.
  9. Ypsilanti
    This Michigan city is carving its own path by making the consumption of up to one ounce of marijuana the lower priority for the law enforcement.
  10. Hazel Park and 11. Oak Park
    These two cities are new to the list this month. According to the Daily Chronic, both cities have voted to make marijuana legal for adults who are possessing up to an ounce of marijuana on private property.

Michigan Cities That Will Be Voting in November

According to Marijuana Policy Project, the following cities will be voting on marijuana-related measures this November.

  • Saginaw
  • Mount Pleasant
  • Lapeer
  • Clare
  • Harrison
  • Onaway
  • Berkley
  • Huntington Woods
  • Pleasant Ridge

Marijuana CPS and Child Custody

All of these cities are making the way for marijuana to become legal. However, the fact remains that under state and federal law marijuana is illegal. Some parents have even had their children taken by Child Protective Services because of marijuana being in the home.

Marijuana remains a schedule 1 drug by the Federal Government, which means that it could even be used in custody battles. Find out more about this in How Marijuana is Affecting the Custody of Your Child.

Is Marijuana Legal Now?

Let’s be clear. Marijuana is a schedule 1 drug and remains illegal in the state of Michigan under state and federal law. In many cities like Flint and Detroit, the police departments have said that they will enforce state and federal law over the new city ordinances. Just because your city has voted, it doesn’t mean that you are exempt if caught with possession of marijuana.

If you or someone you know is facing a marijuana charge, we recommend to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Please call our office at:

248-348-7400 or 586-530-1000