Last verified: March 2026
Michigan allows adults 21+ to possess 2.5 ounces in public (including a maximum of 15 grams of concentrate) and up to 10 ounces at home in a locked container. Medical patients enjoy the same limits plus higher edible potency and significant tax savings.
Possession Limits Explained
Michigan's MRTMA establishes a two-tier system: a public carry limit and a higher home storage limit. The home limit comes with a critical condition — any amount exceeding 2.5 ounces must be stored in a locked container.
| Category | Recreational (21+) | Medical (18+ with card) |
|---|---|---|
| Public possession | 2.5 oz (max 15g concentrate) | 2.5 oz usable marijuana + equivalents |
| Home storage | Up to 10 oz (locked container) | 2.5 oz + harvest from home plants |
| Purchase per transaction | 2.5 oz | 2.5 oz (up to 10 oz/month) |
| Home plants | 12 per household | 12 per patient |
| Gifting | Up to 2.5 oz to adults 21+ | N/A |
A person 21 years of age or older may possess, use, consume, purchase, transport, or process 2.5 ounces or less of marihuana... A person may store up to 10 ounces of marihuana within their residence, provided that any amount in excess of 2.5 ounces is secured in a locked container.
MCL 333.27955 — Personal Use of Marihuana
Recreational vs. Medical: Side-by-Side
| Limit Type | Recreational (21+) | Medical Patient |
|---|---|---|
| Public Possession | 2.5 ounces | 2.5 ounces |
| Concentrate Limit (Public) | 15 grams | 15 grams |
| Home Possession | 10 ounces (locked container for excess over 2.5 oz) | 10 ounces (locked container for excess over 2.5 oz) |
| Home Plants | 12 per household | 12 per household (caregiver may grow additional) |
| Edible Potency (Per Dose) | 10 mg THC | 50 mg THC |
| Edible Potency (Per Package) | 100 mg THC | 200 mg THC |
| Tax Rate | 10% excise + 6% sales (~16%) | 6% sales tax only |
While the raw possession limits are identical, medical patients benefit from higher edible potency and ~34% lower taxes. For patients who consume regularly, these differences add up. See our Medical Program page for details.
The Locked Container Requirement
This is one of Michigan's most frequently misunderstood rules. You can keep up to 10 ounces at home, but any amount above 2.5 ounces must be in a locked container. This means:
- A lockbox, safe, or locked cabinet is compliant
- A drawer, jar on a shelf, or unlocked container is not compliant
- The container must be genuinely locked — a latch or magnetic closure does not qualify
- If law enforcement finds over 2.5 ounces at your home that is not in a locked container, you can face penalties even if the total is under 10 ounces
Having 10 ounces at home is perfectly legal — as long as the excess over 2.5 ounces is in a locked container. An unlocked jar of 5 ounces on your kitchen counter is technically a violation. Invest in a simple lockbox.
Concentrate Limits
Within your 2.5-ounce public possession limit, no more than 15 grams may be concentrate. This includes:
- Wax, shatter, and budder
- Live resin and live rosin
- Distillate and CO2 oil
- Hash and kief
- Vape cartridges containing cannabis oil
Edibles and infused products are counted by their total weight, not by THC content, toward the 2.5-ounce limit.
Gifting Rules
Under MCL 333.27955, adults 21+ may gift cannabis to other adults 21+:
- Up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis
The transfer must be genuinely gratuitous. Any exchange involving compensation — including "donations," purchasing unrelated items to receive a "free" gift, or barter — constitutes an illegal sale. Michigan does not have an explicit "gifting economy" exemption.
What Counts as "Marihuana"?
Under the MRTMA, "marihuana" includes:
- Dried flower (bud)
- Concentrates (wax, shatter, live resin, distillate, hash, kief)
- Edibles and infused products
- Vape cartridges containing cannabis oil
- Tinctures and topicals
It does not include live plants, which are counted separately under the home cultivation limits.
Penalties for Exceeding Limits
Exceeding Michigan's possession limits triggers escalating penalties:
| Offense | Classification | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Public consumption | Civil infraction | Up to $100 fine |
| Over limit by <5 oz | Civil infraction | Up to $500 fine |
| Over limit by 5+ oz | Misdemeanor | Jail + fines |
| 13–24 plants | Civil infraction | $500 fine |
| 25–200 plants | Felony | Up to 7 years |
| 200+ plants | Felony | Up to 15 years |
| Sale to minors | Felony | Up to 7 years / $10,000 |
For a full breakdown, see our Penalties page.
Crossing State Lines
Cannabis cannot cross Michigan's borders under any circumstances. This applies regardless of whether the neighboring state has legalized cannabis. Transporting cannabis to or from Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, or Canada is a federal crime. For more, see Out-of-State Visitors.
Official Sources
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org