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Why Michigan spells marijuana with an 'h'

The state harkens back to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 for its chosen spelling of the plant.
Credit: WGRZ
A medical marijuana plant being grown.

That's not a typo. The state of Michigan uses the more antiquated spelling of marihuana, instead of the more commonly used marijuana with a "J."

The state harkens back to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 for its chosen spelling of the plant and the Legislature would have to act to officially change the spelling to marijuana.

"As governing state laws spell marihuana with an 'h,' communication from BMMR (Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation) in relation to the Medical Marihuana Act or facility licensing and the applicable administrative rules will use an 'h' in the spelling of Marihuana," LARA said in a statement.

The state, however can't dictate how anyone outside the marijuana industry spells the plant. So readers will rarely, if ever, see marihuana in the Detroit Free Press.

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Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.

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