It was this week that Michigan finally issued rules on how it will govern its recreational marijuana market.
“Presuming we get applications on the day we start accepting applications, I would expect we would probably issue licenses in November,” said Andrew Brisbo, director of the state Marijuana Regulatory Agency.
The agency will start accepting applications on Nov. 1.
Under the new rules, three new categories of licenses will be available that will allow people to become marijuana-themed event planners and hold marijuana events.
There will be no capitalization requirements for the recreational license, which could result in opening up the market to more people. “This will create an environment that’s inclusive in nature for businesses of all sizes,” said Brisbo.
The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, commented, “We particularly like that there are no capitalization requirements, which should help make licenses more accessible to small-business owners,” said Josh Hovey, spokesman for the organization. “And there is a strong demand for on-site consumption and cannabis-friendly special events, so we also are thankful that there will be licensing available for businesses that cater to this need.”
Here are other differences between the state’s recreational marijuana license requirements versus medical marijuana requirements:
Marijuana retail shops will be able to deliver products to homes and to social consumption clubs, while medical marijuana cardholders can only get the product delivered to their homes.
License renewal fees will be designated in three tiers with the largest businesses charged a bigger fee, while smaller businesses are charged less. The state will set the cost for those three tiers later this year. The currently license regulatory assessment for all medical marijuana businesses is $66,000.
Recreational license applications will be expedited for people who already hold medical marijuana licenses.
Growers and processors of marijuana will be allowed to offer employees free samples of products that can be used off site to ensure the quality and potency of the products. They can also offer free samples to retail establishment owners who want to try the product before deciding whether they want to purchase it.
Potency guidelines for recreational marijuana will be set at a future date and will most likely be lower than the 50 milligram per serving dose that is allowed for medical marijuana-infused products such as gummies and mints.