You’re not dreaming – Detroit is actually close to launching retail cannabis sales. The first phase of limited recreational Detroit cannabis licenses opened today and ends at 8 a.m. on October 1st.
Half of the 160 available licenses will be issued to social equity applicants over three application phases. During phase one, which began today, the city will award sixty licenses total: ten consumption establishments, forty adult-use retailers, and ten microbusinesses.
Each of the aforementioned categories will include an equal number of general and social equity licenses. Qualified social equity applicants must be a resident of Detroit or another community that has been determined as disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. Any business that is at least 51 percent owned by a qualified social equity applicant can apply as a social equity business.
The application window opening comes three years after voters approved recreational cannabis in Detroit. Applications were delayed in July after two lawsuits were filed in response to the city council approving a modified adult-use license ordinance back in April. A judge had temporarily suspended the process before reversing the decision.
Dates for the second and third phase are yet to be determined and will both include thirty retail, ten microbusiness, and ten consumption lounges.
