Michigan Laws and Programs

Types of Drugs Used in Michigan

A 2006 survey of Michigan residents aged 12 or older found that 8.76 percent reported illicit drug use in the past month, with marijuana use most common (6.43 percent). Almost 12 percent (11.92 percent) reported marijuana use in the past year, 5.59 percent reported nonmedical use of pain relievers in the past year, and 2.19 percent reported cocaine use in the past year. Just fewer than 3 percent (2.88 percent) reported illicit drug dependence or use in the last year.

A survey of Michigan high school students in 2007 found that marijuana was also the most common drug used, with 35.4 percent reporting lifetime use (9.0 percent reporting use before age 13) and 18.0 percent reporting current marijuana use. Inhalants were the second most common drug reported (12.0 percent lifetime use) followed by cocaine (6.8 percent lifetime use), and methamphetamine (2.8 percent lifetime use).

In fiscal year (FY) 2007, 38.2 percent of federally-sentenced defendants in Michigan were charged with drug offenses, with the most common drugs being marijuana (28.3 percent), crack cocaine (25.3 percent), and powder cocaine (22.4 percent). In 2007 there were 164 meth lab incidents in Michigan, a substantial decrease from 341 incidents in 2005.

Laws

Possession or use of marijuana in any amount is a misdemeanor in Michigan, with the exception of possession within a park, which may be charged as a felony; conditional discharge is possible for possession and use. Distribution without remuneration is a misdemeanor but cultivation or distribution with remuneration is a felony. Michigan has allowed the medical use of marijuana since 2008. Patients with written certification from a physician that marijuana is likely to be beneficial for treating their medical conditions (which may include but are not limited to cancer, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease agitation, wasting syndrome, severe pain or nausea, seizures, and severe muscle spasms) may register with the Michigan Department of Community Health and will receive an identification card stating that they have the right to use marijuana for medical purposes.

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