Enjoying cannabis, recreationally or medicinally, has been legal in Michigan for years now. But as the holidays come up and many of us prepare to travel, cannabis consumers may be wondering: is it okay to travel with a joint? Can you drive a snowmobile after having a cannabrownie? What about if you fly to Grandma’s and take a couple edibles?
Check out our reminders below for how you can legally travel with cannabis in Michigan!
“Can I drive with weed?”
Yes, within Michigan, you can drive with cannabis in your car. As long as you’re honoring the state’s possession guidelines, it’s not legally a problem to bring cannabutter or magic brownies to your family Thanksgiving!
“Okay, what are Michigan’s possession guidelines again?”
You can have up to 2.5oz of weed on your person or in your car. You can have up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.
“Can I take weed across state lines if I’m driving?”
You would think, now that cannabis is legal in Ohio, that this would be okay. But it’s actually still prohibited. You definitely shouldn’t bring weed to your cousin’s gathering if they’re in a different state.
“Can I fly with weed?”
No. Even if the states you are flying to both have legalized marijuana, it’s illegal to fly with it because it’s illegal according to federal law.
Does that mean you’ll absolutely get caught if you travel with weed? Not necessarily, but it’s not something you’d want to risk. TSA doesn’t search for marijuana, but since it’s considered a federally illegal substance, if TSA finds it they’ll refer the situation to the police.
“Can my cousins and I enjoy some edibles outside, like at a park?”
Definitely not. Being in public is illegal generally, and judges are often much sterner at any consumption use that is in an area children may frequent, such as parks, schools, etc. If you want to enjoy outside, make sure it’s a private residence and the owner is okay with it.
“Is it a problem if I smoke a joint and then drive?”
A good rule of thumb is to replace “weed” with “alcohol” and see if that feels safe and legal. Driving under the influence is driving under the influence — whether it’s alcohol or weed. It’s best to not drive when you’ve consumed any substance, as you can’t always tell if you’re just lightly buzzed–and it impairs your reaction time.
“What about if I just get on a snowmobile at my family’s house, or we go downtown on an electric scooter?”
Operating any motorized vehicle under the influence is still illegal.
“What happens if a cop suspects me of being high?”
A police officer will be determining your sobriety in a similar way to alcohol impairment: they’ll look at how you’re driving, how you interact with them, and how you do on field sobriety tests. If the police officer thinks they need to move forward with a chemical test, you do need to agree to a chemical test, or your license will be suspended.
“What happens if I drive while high and I’m caught?”
Again, similar situation to being charged with a DUI for alcohol. The consequences can include any or all of the following: a license suspension, six points on your driving record, up to a $500 fine, or up to 93 days in jail.
Any other questions that come to mind when preparing to travel for the holidays? Let us know!
