Medical marijuana dispensaries in Michigan can be shut down as public nuisances, according to a ruling Friday by the state Supreme Court.
The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher reports.
The ruling means virtually all retail sales of medical pot in Michigan are illegal under state law. Patients can only get marijuana from a licensed caregiver, or they can grow it themselves.
Michael Komorn is with the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association. He says the ruling conflicts with the intent of the voter-approved Medical Marijuana Act.
“We wanted patients to be able to have access to cannabis and be able to obtain it without issue," he says. "This will be an issue.”
But Komorn says it will ultimately be up to local communities to decide whether to shut down the dispensaries. He says it’s likely many will be able to keep their doors open.
State Attorney General Bill Schuette is cheering the Supreme Court’s decision. He says he’ll encourage county prosecutors to go after the dispensaries.