Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Michigan law
Cannabis laws in Ann Arbor follow Michigan’s state law. City-level policy rarely changes cannabis legality; jurisdiction law determines legal risk.
Recreational and medical cannabis are legal for adults 21 and older. Licensed retail sales are permitted. While compliant use carries low risk under state law, cannabis remains illegal under federal law.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Legal
- Medical: Legal
- Possession: Legal within limits
- Buying/Selling: Legal from licensed retailers
- Tourists: Permitted for adults 21+
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
Michigan voters legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21+ in 2018 via Proposal 1, permitting possession of up to 2.5 ounces in public (10 ounces at home), home cultivation of up to 12 plants, and licensed retail sales. Medical cannabis was legalized earlier in 2008 through a ballot proposition, establishing a patient registry and caregiver system.
Law Enforcement
Ann Arbor police sometimes patrolled outdoor smoking spots by cannabis-friendly bars downtown. A stop could mean being cuffed briefly, losing the stash and getting a US$50 ticket. Local officers were less active about cannabis investigations but contributed to the regional LAWNET task force. Blowing smoke right at an officer was never going to help. Michigan has since regulated adult-use cannabis, as covered in Marijuana Laws.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Most deals happened in homes or apartments, though there was a street scene too. The head shops around East William and South State and liquor stores near South State and Packard drew smokers. The Fourth Ward around Catherine and East Ann and student streets such as Washtenaw, East University and Hill were other places people met. Nichols Arboretum was lively when school was in session and the weather held.
Introductions through students, cab drivers, smoker-friendly bars or diners were another route. The University of Michigan’s central campus and the west and north sides of downtown all came up.
Marijuana Prices
- US$40 for an eighth of regs
- US$50–60 for an eighth of chronic
- Another quote put good weed at US$40–50 for an eighth, with midgrade pricing overlapping
Types of Marijuana
Everything from Mexican schwag to chronic. Student sellers usually wanted a cut, which made the city feel expensive.
More Information
The local Hash Bash tradition brought people to the University of Michigan Diag at noon on the first Saturday in April, then on to the Monroe Street Fair around 1 p.m. Hashbash.com and Freedom Activist were listed as event resources.