DETROIT (WWJ) – More marijuana businesses will be coming to Detroit as the city announced it will begin accepting its second wave of applications for recreational retail licenses next month.
The application window will be open Aug. 1-31 for dispensaries, microbusinesses, and consumption lounges. The city says 30 licenses will be available for retail and 10 each for microbusinesses and consumption lounges.
Decisions will be made about 6-8 weeks after the application process closes at the end of the month.
Kim James, Director of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship, says half the recreational dispensaries licensed in round one are majority owned by Detroit residents.
Equity applicants – either someone whose primary residence is located within a disproportionately impacted community, or an entity in which at least one or more of such individuals owns and controls at least 51% – will receive at least half of this round’s licenses.
James says the demand remains high several years after Michigan voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana.
“I think for us it’s a bit too early to tell because our 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.
All but one of Detroit’s 36 adult use licensees also have a medical license, according to James.
Marijuana business licenses provided by the City of Detroit are valid for one year. Licensees must obtain a state operating license from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency before starting operations.
To learn more about the Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship and how to apply, visit HomeGrownDetroit.org.
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