Michigan Could See Changes to Medical Marijuana Program in 2015

Michigan lawmakers could overhaul the state’s medical marijuana program later this year. Earlier last week, a package of bills was passed through the House Judiciary Committee that would remedy some of the problems that have plagued the program for the past several years.

For starters, one bill would establish a system to monitor the program from seed to sale, attaching an 8 percent excise tax to the product at the dispensary. However, another bill would make it possible for patients to consume edible marijuana products again.

Some lawmakers are worried that the latest proposal might drive patients back out into the black market.

"What we’ve seen in other states is if you treat the medical marijuana like enriched uranium and you try to wrap it in red tape what ends up happening is that more and more people turn to the illegal market,” said State Representative Jeff Irwin.

The bills now head to the full House for consideration.

If passed, the new law could be ready to go by November of this year.