8 Marijuana Laws So Weird You Have To Read Them To Believe

Marijuana laws are changing faster than ever as individual states steer their paths toward (or away from) legalization. Thirty-eight states have legalized marijuana to some extent, which is a heap more than just a few years ago. While this may be great news for cannabis activists and enthusiasts, “legalization” means something different in almost every state.

Because marijuana legalization occurs at the state level rather than the federal level, there is room for all sorts of variations in cannabis law. While many laws make sense for each individual state, some stand out as a little bizarre. Some laws are just weird. Here is a list of 8 crazy marijuana laws that you can’t help but laugh at, even though they are very real.

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1. Michigan uses an outdated marijuana spelling

When the state of Michigan legalized marijuana, they took a historic (and very dated) approach. The state refers to marijuana as “marijuana,” which is a term that’s both old and, as we’ve done before, is reported, problematic. The reasoning is rooted in history, according to Michigan Michigan.gov. “Michigan’s history begins primarily with the spelling chosen for the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.”

2. DC welcomes the gift of bestowal

Recreational marijuana is legal in Washington DC, but operating a marijuana dispensary is illegal. A few years ago, entrepreneurs found clever ways to sell weed in speakeasy-style retail stores. From clothing sales featuring weed to gym memberships that include marijuana in their workout programs, more and more storefronts have popped up. The fascinating thing is that these aren’t just makeshift shops. There are all kinds of “not quite drugstores” all over DC with permanent store fronts that don’t hide what they sell. It all makes it clear that The District is privy to the joke and loophole in the law, and doesn’t seem to mind much.

3. No dispensary merch in Massachusetts

If you’re looking for a hat, t-shirt, or even a sticker with your favorite pharmacy logo on it, you won’t find anything in Massachusetts. Dispensaries are not allowed to advertise their cannabis products on clothing, mugs, drink holders, novelty items or anything else you can think of Cannabis Control Commission from Massachusetts. However, they’re allowed to sell marijuana in many forms, so there’s still plenty to buy.

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4. Maine imposes a food tax on edibles, bon appetit!

In Maine, the tax rate for marijuana varies depending on how you consume it. “Medical marijuana 5.5 percent general retail sales tax rate. Eight percent edibles.” maine.gov. Groceries are taxed more heavily because Maine imposes a food tax on them. Who knew gummy bears counted as lunch?

5. Do not deliver weed on planes, trains or boats in California

California may have been one of the pioneers in legalizing marijuana, but they’re very specific about how they plan to transport it. Corresponding California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control“Transportation by airplane, watercraft, drone, rail vehicle, human-powered vehicle and unmanned vehicle is prohibited.” In other words, don’t reinvent the wheel, use a car

6. You can’t smell weed in California or Washington

Many find that smelling the marijuana buds is one of the funnest experiences in a dispensary. It compares the experience to visiting a winery as you learn the notes of each bud from the budtender. Unfortunately, you’ll have to stick to wineries for this experience in California and Washington, as all produce must be sealed and individually wrapped. No scratching and sniffing present.

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7. Nevada is a typeface advocate

Nevada may be the city of sin, but perhaps the greatest sin is committing a font faux pas. Nevada not only has specific rules for font size, but also for the font itself. While the state allows both serif and sans serif fonts on labels, you cannot use italics. Any other graphic or “funny” fonts are absolutely out of the question.

8. Looking for Weed in Delaware? Find a phone book

Delaware is another state that makes finding marijuana more of a treasure hunt than normal. Delaware does not permit the promotion of medical marijuana through regular print, broadcast, in-person advertising, or any other means. If you’re looking for marijuana dispensaries instead, you might need to dust off a phone book. Delaware Marijuana Codes prohibit all forms of advertising, but specifically allow telephone directory advertising.