MICHIGAN MARIJUANA

After years of back and forth and a court battle, the City of Detroit is finally issuing recreational marijuana licenses to businesses.

You can now buy recreational marijuana in Mount Clemens, even though the city doesn’t allow it.

People seeking recreational marijuana business licenses in Detroit can begin applying next month.

On Friday at 10 a.m., Michigan-based Lume Cannabis Co. will open the doors to its Ann Arbor location at 2247 W. Liberty Street.

The City of Detroit is officially allowing recreational marijuana to be sold in the city under a newly approved ordinance.

Spark in the Park, a two-day music and marijuana festival is being proposed in Hazel Park.

A new cannabis dispensary is opening in Center Line and the first 100 customers will win free pre-rolled joints for a year.

More than $42.2 million in marijuana tax revenue will be distributed among 163 municipalities and counties in Michigan.

After sitting vacant for years, the Gibraltar Trade Center site in Mount Clemens is set to become a massive cannabis dispensary and a cannabis-based drinks operation.

Michigan poison control officials have issued a warning about possible cases of fentanyl-laced marijuana in the state, labeling it as a potential “emerging public health threat.”

A marijuana testing lab has filed a lawsuit against Michigan regulators after a major product recall and allegations of unreliable results.

Cannabis jobs doubled in Michigan in the year 2020, and the growth in sales continues to build stronger.

If you’ve purchased marijuana recently, you’re going to want to check the label after a recent recall issued by regulators in Michigan.

The Michigan appeals court affirmed a two-year suspension for a doctor who approved nearly 22,000 medical marijuana certificates in a 12-month period.

Detroit Pistons legend Ben Wallace, recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, has signed a deal with a Michigan-based cannabis company to develop his own products.

The debate of building another medical marijuana dispensary in the city of River Rouge is getting mixed reactions.

NBA legend and Detroit’s own Chris Webber was back in town Tuesday for his latest business venture, a $50 million cannabis facility on 22nd Street in Corktown.

Batches were found to contain banned chemical residues.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed an amicus brief on Monday, arguing that a person who is fired for marijuana use outside of their workspace should still be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Calvin Johnson is simply in awe that he will soon join Jim Brown and Gale Sayers as Pro Football Hall of Famers inducted at the age of 35 years old or younger.

A show cause hearing was held for a 79-year-old woman, who says she’s growing multiple marijuana plants for those in pain.

According to the Governor’s Office, the product will be regulated by the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) beginning Oct. 11.

Legislation to close a gap in Michigan marijuana law that has allowed some untested products similar to marijuana to be sold has passed in the state House.

WALLED LAKE, Mich. – Girl Scout troops in Metro Detroit were reportedly prohibited from selling cookies outside of a marijuana dispensary in Walled Lake, but local organization leaders say that the troops were given false information. Last weekend, Oakland County Girl Scouts were welcomed outside of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake cannabis store by owner Jerry Millen, who authorized the girls to sell cookies outside of his dispensary. Following their successful sales, several more Girl Scout troops asked Millen if they could also sell cookies outside of Greenhouse, which Millen approved. Ad“Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM) does not have a policy prohibiting troops from selling cookies at or near any legally operating business. The national Girl Scouts organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, does discourage troops from selling at locations where the girls cannot legally enter, however, there is no policy prohibiting selling at such businesses,” the statement reads.

Cannabis jobs doubled in Michigan in the year 2020, and the growth in sales continues to build stronger. US cannabis jobs reportCannabis website Leafly released its 2021 jobs report this week, noting the United States added about 77,000 full-time jobs in the cannabis industry. AdThere is some very interesting data in here, such as consumer data showing who is spending the most on cannabis -- Generation X has the highest average monthly spend on cannabis:Leafly 2021 Jobs Reports (Leafly)Michigan cannabis jobs doubleRecreational cannabis jobs now span 37 states. Michigan is among the top 10 in terms of the number of jobs, jobs added in 2020 and cannabis sales in 2020:There are 18,078 legal cannabis jobs in Michigan -- 9,216 were added in 2020, a doubling. Legal sales began in late 2019, making 2020 the first full year of legal recreational cannabis sales in Michigan.

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency collected data in December that showed 79% of people interested in ownership of licensed marijuana facilities were white. AdThe history of people of color being arrested and prosecuted for marijuana-related offenses makes them less likely to be given opportunities to participate in the industry, workgroup member and attorney Barton Morris said. The workgroup found that access to the necessary capital and information on operating marijuana businesses in accordance with rules set by municipalities are big barriers for people of color. The MRA could also establish a webinar and training sessions for municipalities to learn how to equitably create ordinances for marijuana businesses and share ideas. AdState Rep. Sarah Anthony, who is on the workgroup, said members plan to have those who come to communities to educate on the marijuana industry be reflective of those communities.

Cannabis has become a multi-million dollar business in Michigan, but there is still a double standard when it comes to social equity in the industry. The Michigan company Pleasantrees is known for its cannabis products, but they’re also working to make the marijuana industry more equitable for everyone. “Social equity has basically become a term of art in the cannabis industry,” said Jerome Crawford with Pleasantrees. The Michigan company is hiring more minorities like Crawford, an attorney who now oversees legal operations and social equity for Pleasantrees. AdYou can learn more about Pleasantrees’ social equity plan on their website here.

The U.S House voted Friday to pass a bill that would decriminalize cannabis and clear the way to erasing nonviolent federal marijuana convictions. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, is aimed at decriminalizing cannabis (marijuana) and making it possible to erase nonviolent federal marijuana convictions. BREAKING: US House votes 228-164 to pass historic bill that would decriminalize cannabis and clear the way to erase nonviolent federal marijuana convictions; bill moves to US Senate. Related: UN agency removes cannabis from strictest drug categoryThis comes after more states voted to legalize recreational marijuana this past month. Friday’s vote would mark the first time a full chamber of Congress has taken up the issue of federally decriminalizing cannabis, NBC reports.

DETROIT – Councilman James Tate announced a proposed amendment to the Detroit City Code to allow adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in Detroit. The ordinance would give significant preference to Detroit residents in terms of the number of licenses issued, discounts on land and other incentives, officials said. Detroit Legacy applicants will get a minimum of 50 percent of all newly created business licenses issued in the city, officials said. No license will be issued to any recreational business if it reduces the number of licenses issued to Detroit Legacy applicants below 50 percent. There will be a six-week exclusive early licensing period for Detroit Legacy applicants.

DETROIT – Mayor Mike Duggan and City Council member James Tate are expected to unveil a proposal Monday that would allow marijuana licenses in Detroit. Residents of Detroit were surprised to hear that Duggan could soon be announcing an amendment to the city’s code that could possibly allow adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in the city. But freeing up marijuana sales isn’t the only goal of the legislation -- it also includes a social equity program focused on inclusion and opportunity. Under the new plan, 10 types of licenses are expected to be available to people operating in the city. Legacy applicants to receive first priority with discounts on application fees and city landDetails are expected to be revealed during a Monday afternoon press conference.

The bipartisan Clean Slate Package will automatically expunge some marijuana convictions, minor crimes and nonviolent felonies. Gilchrist joined Whitmer when she signed the Clean Slate package. “We made an estimate that it’s going to cost about $23-25 million to implement the Clean Slate automated expungement system," Gilchrist said. Whitmer on Monday alongside a number of House bills designed to automate the criminal record expungement process and expand eligibility criteria. More: New ‘Clean Slate’ laws to automate criminal record expungement process, expand eligibility criteria in Michigan

Some Michigan residents who have been convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana offense are now eligible to have that conviction set aside. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bills into law on Monday expanding eligibility requirements for criminal record expungement -- including for those with misdemeanor marijuana convictions. Marijuana offenses are eligible for expungement if they would not be considered illegal if committed after December 6, 2018, when recreational marijuana use became legal for adults in the state of Michigan. In 2018, Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana by an 11-point margin. More: New ‘Clean Slate’ laws to automate criminal record expungement process, expand eligibility criteria in Michigan

A corporate takeover of the marijuana industry in Michigan is creating concerns for those who rely on the plant for health benefits and more. Some people argue that corporate operations are working to cut out caregivers, who grow and sell marijuana to their medical patients. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency has cut a major supply chain of pot, which is affecting patients and business owners, who are experiencing a shortage. Patients are concerned that the battle between local and corporate operations and the shortage of some products might raise marijuana prices for those who need it most. Watch Hank Winchester’s full report in the video player above.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. Michigan may have said YES to recreational marijuana, but cities across Metro Detroit have been struggling with where and how much to allow. After one year of trying to hash it out, the city Royal Oak is discussing the situation. There has been a lot of opposition to putting marijuana businesses along the Woodward Corridor. Royal Oak City Commission cast a series of ordinances that would allow businesses along Woodward. The police chief did say that he doesnt believe marijuana businesses along Woodward would put a drain on his resources.

YPSILANTI, Mich. The first recreational marijuana dispensary has opened in Ypsilanti. Oz Cannabis, just outside of Depot Town in downtown Ypsilanti, is the first to receive both city and state approval as a marijuana retailer selling medical and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. Oz Cannabis founder, Nemer Haddad, a lifelong Detroit-area entrepreneur, says hes proud of the companys Ypsilanti location. In 2018, Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana by an 11-point margin. Related: Michigan voted to legalize marijuana in 2018, but many communities have opted out of salesMichigan regulators starting accepting license applications in late 2019 and are slowly working to activate them, in accordance with marijuana laws in the state.

The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) announced Thursday new regulations for marijuana licensees to follow in accordance with the states reopening guidelines and stay-at-home order. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer divided the state into eight regions under her MI Safe Start Plan as the states economy begins to reopen amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Each region will execute a reopening plan tailored to whatever phase of the pandemic they are currently experiencing. Marijuana retail locations and provisioning facilities have remained open amid the pandemic as they have been considered essential under Whitmers executive orders. RELATED: Sales are booming for Michigan marijuana businesses during coronavirus pandemic

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DETROIT – Authorities said they found about $1 million worth of marijuana at an illegal grow operation Thursday in Detroit. According to officials, the weed was discovered during a drug bust in the area of Irvington Street and East Seven Mile Road. When a search warrant was executed, the grow operation was found inside a building, and two trailers outside were also filled with marijuana, authorities said.

DETROIT – The first Michigan recreational marijuana, or adult-use, sale was made on Dec. 1, 2019 -- and it’ll soon be more available around the state. In 2018, Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana by an 11-point margin. Related: Michigan voted to legalize marijuana in 2018, but many communities have opted out of salesMichigan regulators starting accepting license applications in late 2019 and are slowly working to activate them, in accordance with marijuana laws in the state. As of Feb. 18, 2020, there are 47 active adult-use licenses in the state. Be sure to call ahead)Active adult-use marijuana licenses in Michigan:

DETROIT – As of Dec. 6, 2018 it is legal to grow your own marijuana in the state of Michigan. Legal adults in Michigan are allowed to grow up to 12 marijuana plants inside their residence. If the caregiver is also a patient and has five patients, he or she can grow up to 72 marijuana plants. Michigan adopted its statutory definition of marijuana in the Public Health Code, utilizing the then current federal spelling, marihuana. An act of the Michigan Legislature would be required in order to change the spelling of marijuana in the Michigan statutes, such as the Public Health Code or the newer marijuana laws.

A small town in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula is buying an odor-detection device and drafting an ordinance to crack down on the unpleasant smell of blooming marijuana plants. “The city of Bessemer stinks,” council member Linda Nelson said Monday as the council voted to buy the device, which will cost $3,400 with training. "You can smell marijuana everywhere. The Michigan law has attracted people from Wisconsin and Minnesota who are buying houses and growing marijuana indoors, Loper said. The council voted 4-1 in favor of the device, the Daily Globe reported.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – Three Michigan businesses that sell recreational marijuana have won the right to begin making home deliveries of pot. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs says it’s approved home pot deliveries by Lit Provisionary in Evart, Battle Creek Provisioning in Battle Creek and Nature’s Releaf Burton in Burton. Those three businesses are the first approved for adult-use home delivery in Michigan, which began allowing sales of recreational marijuana on Dec. 1 to adults age 21 and over, WOOD-TV reported. The delivery process is similar to medical marijuana delivery. Detroit has delayed recreational sales until at least Jan. 31.

DETROIT – In the first eight days of recreational marijuana sales in Michigan, businesses netted more than $1.6 million. MORE: Where you can find recreational marijuana in MichiganOf that amount, more than $200,000 in tax revenue was generated. State officials estimate that marijuana sales will generate nearly $950 million annually once fully established. Three of the five shops that were selling recreational marijuana during the first week of legal sales sold out or had limited supplies.

A group is pushing for more diversity in Michigan's legal marijuana industry. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

Crowds get in line for recreational marijuana in Ann ArborPublished: December 6, 2019, 12:24 pmThere were long lines Dec. 1, 2019 in Ann Arbor as legal recreational marijuana went on sale.

If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Copyright © 2020 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Copyright © 2020 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. Additional fees are listed in the table below:State License Type Initial License Fee Class A Marijuana Grower $4,000 Class B Marijuana Grower $8,000 Class C Marijuana Grower $40,000 Excess Marijuana Grower $40,000 Marijuana Microbusiness $8,000 Marijuana Processor $40,000 Marijuana Retailer $25,000 Marijuana Secure Transporter $25,000 Marijuana Safety Compliance Facility $25,000 Marijuana Event Organizer $1,000 Temporary Marijuana Event See Rule 63 Designated Consumption Establishment $1,000For temporary marijuana events each marijuana event organizer is expected to pay an initial licensure fee of $500 for each day of the scheduled event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales:

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. If marijuana is for sale at the event they are expected to pay a $500 fee for each licensee authorized to sell product at the event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales:

DETROIT – Michigan voters approved a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana last November. Licensing and rulesIn July, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) released emergency rules to put the ballot language into effect until at least Jan. 2020. Starting on Nov. 1, 2019, MRA will begin accepting applications for recreational marijuana businesses. So, it's likely you could start seeing recreational marijuana in late November or early December. Communities opt outHundreds (nearly 1,000) of Michigan communities have decided to opt out of recreational marijuana sales.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would grant legal marijuana businesses access to banking, a measure that would clear up a longstanding headache for the industry. The bill, called the SAFE Banking Act, passed 321-103 on the strength of near-unanimous support from Democrats and nearly half of Republicans. “This is a sign the time has come for comprehensive cannabis reform,” said Morgan Fox, a spokesman for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Supporters of the banking bill, including Democratic Reps. Denny Heck of Washington and Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, characterized it as a public safety measure. “Granting this industry access to banks will bring billions of dollars of institutional investment from the titans of addiction and vastly expand the harms we are already witnessing.”

DETROIT – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency has recalled four medical marijuana products as part of an investigation into Iron Laboratories. If you have the affected products you should destroy them or return them to the provisioning center where you purchased them. "We take the testing of medical marijuana product very seriously," said MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo. "Our first focus is on making sure that the marijuana product in the regulated industry meets established safety standards." The recalled products were sold in the following cities:

DETROIT – While recreational marijuana sales in Michigan are expected to initially rocket, a public policy organization has warned that legal pot is an unpredictable revenue source. The Detroit Free Press reports that investors at the Capital Cannabis Conference in Detroit forecast Michigan's market could exceed $2 billion. But a Pew Charitable Trusts study released Aug. 19 says high taxes -- and a thriving black market -- could upset revenue goals, as in California.

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) announced the details of its Social Equity Program, which is designed to encourage participation in the marijuana industry by people who live in the 19 Michigan communities which have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement:AlbionBenton HarborDetroitEast LansingEcorseFlintHighland ParkHamtramckInksterKalamazooMt. From the results, the MRA developed a Social Equity Program that identifies communities as eligible using (1) marijuana-related convictions and (2) poverty rate. During the visits, the MRA will provide educational sessions regarding the Social Equity Program and the application and licensure process. Social equity representatives will confirm eligibility for participation in this program through acceptance of several forms of documentation. Social Equity Program ResourcesThe MRA will make resources available to disproportionately impacted communities and individuals who qualify for participation in the Social Equity Program.

CLIO, Mich. – High Times is bringing the annual Cannabis Cup to Clio in June. The event will be held June 8 and 9 at the Auto City Speedway. Because cannabis has been legalized in Michigan, anyone over the age of 21 can attend this year. The Cannabis Cup brings together people in the cannabis industry and crowns winners in different categories. In past events, competitions have been held for best booth, best glass, best product, best edible, best preroll and more.

of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) issued joint guidance today regarding CBD (cannabidiol) and industrial hemp. Here's how CBD and industrial hemp are defined:Industrial Hemp: the plant Cannabis sativa L. with delta-9-THC concentrations below 0.3%. Edible marijuana products containing CBD made by licensed processors may only be produced using CBD obtained from regulated sources. Until the administrative rules are written, there is no authorized method for licensed facilities to obtain industrial hemp. Here's what to know about industrial hemp:

Cerebral palsy has been added to the list of debilitating medical conditions approved for Michigan medical marijuana patients. Cerebral Palsy was approved by LARA after the Medical Marihuana Review Panel members unanimously recommended approval. LARA also denied the condition of Chronic Aggressive Behavior after panel members unanimously recommended denial. Effective immediately, Cerebral Palsy is now added to the following current list of debilitating medical conditions already approved for medical marijuana in Michigan:

DETROIT – The state of Michigan medical marijuana licensing board has agreed to allow temporary operating facilities to reopen and allow them to get marijuana from caregivers, not just commercial grow operations. Whitmer and the new director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs asked the state's medical marijuana board to approve the measure due to a shortage of medical marijuana in Michigan. The medical marijuana board has extended its grace period for license applicants to March 31, 2019. This is a stop-gap measure that would get provisioning centers open again while the state works on licensing. That only applies to medical marijuana.

DETROIT – Recreational marijuana will become legal this week in the state of Michigan after voters approved a proposal in the November election. The Board of State Canvassers met on Monday and certified the election, meaning recreational weed will become legal in Michigan on Dec. 6, 2018, according to the Secretary of State. In Colorado, the state legislature had to create laws for marijuana use, driving and traveling, specific youth laws, laws for home growing, and more. As would be the case in Michigan, Colorado allows municipalities to pass their own stricter marijuana laws. To read more about marijuana laws in Colorado, go here.

However, marijuana continues to be an illegal drug under federal law. As the chief federal law enforcement officers in Michigan, we are providing this statement regarding the enforcement of federal marijuana laws in light of the passage of Proposal One. We will continue to approach the investigation and prosecution of marijuana crimes as we do with any other crime. The seriousness of the offense and impact on a community includes a broad range of related activity and concerns for federal law enforcement. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to assess the federal law enforcement interest for every case as it comes in.

He was facing six felony charges in Michigan's Allegan County for the delivery and manufacturing of marijuana, and up to 15 years in prison. He also said in the past eight years he has been arrested on marijuana charges 10 times. Martinez doesn't know the exact reason these recent charges were dropped, but he credits the passing of Proposal 18-1. Whatever the reason, Martinez is thankful his felonies are a thing of the past. The Allegan County Prosecutor's Office has not said exactly why the charges were dropped.

In that election, 63 percent of Michigan voters approved medical marijuana, making it the 13th state to legalize medical cannabis. Now after Tuesday's general election, Michigan is the 10th state to approve a measure to legalize recreational marijuana, and the first in the Midwest. The official vote total is 2,285,364 in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana in Michigan. It may take a month for recreational marijuana to officially become legal in the state of Michigan. That means your city, or village or township, can decide not to allow the sale of recreational marijuana.