Windsor-Essex has had recreational cannabis shops for some time, but the City of Detroit is only getting in on the action now.
The city opened up the first phase of its application process at 8 a.m. on Thursday. Over the next month, adult-use retailers, microbusinesses, and lounges can apply for a license to operate legally, with half going to social equity applicants.
Social equity applicants are those who live in Detroit or another community who have been disproportionately impacted by the historical prohibition of marijuana. That includes businesses that are 51 per cent owned by someone who fits the definition.
Detroit expects to license 160 businesses in three phases. Forty retailers, ten micro businesses, and ten consumption lounges will be licensed in the first round.
Voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana in Detroit three years ago, and the city was going to start accepting applications in July. A judge temporarily halted the process after two separate lawsuits.
City Council President Pro-Tem James Tate expressed gratitude after the judge reversed course and upheld the city's ordinance.
"Getting to this point has been an overly protracted process dating back to 2020 when the first ordinance was unanimously approved by Detroit City Council," he said. "Now, with the lawsuits and the failed ballot initiatives seeking to overturn our ordinance behind us, Detroiters and other equity applicants will have a fair opportunity to compete for adult use licenses."
Eventually, Detroit will have 100 licensed retail stores, 30 microbusinesses that grow, process and sell cannabis, and 30 consumption lounges.
The City of Detroit estimates the industry will yield $3-billion in annual revenue in Michigan by 2024.
