The board also agreed to allow marijuana retail storefronts to sell untested medical marijuana supplied by caregivers - individuals legally entitled to grow up to 12 marijuana plants each for up to five patients - until March 31.

But that decision was not without controversy, no surprise given there have been four recalls by LARA this month for medical marijuana grown by caregivers that the agency said was tainted by mold and chemical contamination. As of last week, there had been no reports of illness from untested marijuana to the bureau.

The Michigan Coalition of Independent Cannabis Testing Laboratories condemned the decision to allow sale of untested marijuana, saying it would “undoubtedly flood Michigan's (medical marijuana) marketplace with unsafe, untested cannabis products.”

But Michigan NORML praised the ruling. Board member Rick Thompson said: “This is the system working properly.”

“All the cannabis provided in 2018 was all from caregivers. If we didn’t hear of any illnesses in 2018, then it doesn’t rise to the level of emergency or concern in my mind.”

Related: Analysis: Eight ways Gretchen Whitmer vows to improve Michigan

Under regulations that took effect at the end of 2017, licensed growers were to supply medical marijuana only to licensed retailers and previously unlicensed outlets were put on notice they had to apply for licenses. But as the first licenses were granted in July, pot patient and industry advocates said this regulated market was squeezing supply.

And as licensing rules took effect, that peak number of approximately 300 retail dispensaries fell sharply as some were denied licenses and others decided not to apply.

These rules changes come as the state shifts from the loosely regulated system that grew up after voters approved medical marijuana in 2008 to a more tightly run network for both medical and recreational marijuana.

The legalization of recreational pot allows those age 21 and up to possess up to 2.5 ounces of pot a day and keep up to 10 ounces in their home. Michigan is the 10th state in the nation and first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana.

But under terms of Proposal 1, residents likely won’t be able to legally buy recreational pot until early 2020.

Under the new law, LARA’s newly formed Bureau of Marijuana Regulation is to oversee licensing of commercial outlets. The law requires the bureau to make license applications available by December.

Given that Michigan has more than a million pot smokers, the economic stakes are considerable.

The state Senate Fiscal Agency estimates recreational pot sales will reap $262 million more in annual tax revenues by 2023. An estimate by a Colorado-based consulting firm put the estimated revenue much lower, at about $135 million by the time the market matures.

Proposal 1 stipulates that tax revenues are first to be spent on implementation and enforcement of commercial sales. For two years, the next $20 million would go towards research the use of marijuana in treating veterans and preventing veteran suicide.

The unspent balance is to be spent as follows: 15 percent to municipalities where a marijuana retail store is located; 15 percent to counties where a marijuana retail store is located; 35 percent to K-12 education; 35 percent to the Michigan Transportation Fund.

Still, opponents of recreational marijuana warn of risks. If its implementation goes badly, they say, much of the blame will fall on Whitmer.