Detroit to Open Cannabis License Application Window
Detroit’s second round of cannabis licensing opens Tuesday August 1st. Available licenses include: 30 cannabis retailers, 10 micro-businesses, and 10 consumption lounges. The application window ends on Thursday, August 31st. Licenses will be issued 6-8 weeks following the deadline to apply. This is a great opportunity for the largest municipality in Michigan, one of the few states that is currently licensing new cannabis businesses.
Michigan Cannabis Market
Kim James, Director of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship, says demand remains high in Michigan after years of legalization. “I think for us it’s a bit too early to tell because our [Detroit] licensees have only been operating in 2023. But in this period, we can see that Michigan has become pretty much the No. 1 market in the country – No. 1 or No. 2 behind California – and demand isn’t going anywhere, so I think we can expect success,” James said. Michigan’s largest city famously held out on issuing licenses in city limits for nearly four years due to legal issues until issuing their first licenses in January 2023.
Detroit Social Equity Program
During the first round of licensing, local resident-owned businesses made up half of all licenses. This time around, the city intends for at least half of the licenses to be awarded to social equity applicants. Social equity applicants are individuals who reside within a disproportionately impacted area, or an entity that is at least 51% controlled by a person or people who reside in a disproportionately impacted area. A list of these communities can be found here.
READ MORE: Michigan Cannabis Facts and Figures
Michigan Cannabis Licensing
Applying for a cannabis license in Michigan is a long and arduous process, with several regulatory prohibitions. With such a short application window, the challenge of putting together a successful application is heightened. Global Go cannabis consultants have helped clients win cannabis licenses in Michigan and throughout the United States. Fill out the form below to start the process of winning a cannabis license in Detroit.