Michigan’s cannabis industry isn't just growing—it’s exploding into a multi-billion dollar powerhouse that is reshaping communities and creating thousands of jobs across the state.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Michigan's adult-use cannabis sales totaled $3.15 billion, marking a 25.5% increase from 2022
- Recreational cannabis sales in Michigan for December 2023 alone reached $265.7 million, up 6.2% from November 2023
- Medical cannabis sales in Michigan hit $69.4 million in December 2023, representing 20.7% of total monthly sales
- Michigan collected $456.3 million in cannabis excise taxes in fiscal year 2023
- Total tax revenue from cannabis in Michigan for 2023 exceeded $500 million including sales taxes
- 10% excise tax on recreational cannabis generated $350 million in 2023
- As of January 2024, Michigan had 731 licensed recreational cannabis retailers
- Total active cannabis business licenses reached 1,984 in Q1 2024
- 449 medical-only dispensaries operated alongside dual-use in Michigan as of 2023 end
- Michigan cannabis industry employed over 44,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2023
- Direct jobs in retail dispensaries totaled 15,200 in Michigan end of 2023
- Cultivation and grow operations employed 12,500 workers in 2023
- Michigan licensed 85 new cultivation operations contributing to 10% production growth in 2023
- Total licensed canopy under cultivation reached 2.5 million sq ft by Q1 2024
- Flower production volume: 450,000 pounds harvested in Michigan 2023
Michigan's cannabis sales boomed to over $3 billion, funding communities with substantial tax revenue.
Cultivation and Production
- Michigan licensed 85 new cultivation operations contributing to 10% production growth in 2023
- Total licensed canopy under cultivation reached 2.5 million sq ft by Q1 2024
- Flower production volume: 450,000 pounds harvested in Michigan 2023
- Biomass yield per sq ft averaged 0.85 lbs in Class A facilities 2023
- Indoor cultivation dominated 72% of total canopy in Michigan 2023
- Outdoor grows produced 120,000 lbs of flower in 2023 season
- Greenhouse cultivation canopy: 450,000 sq ft active 2023
- Top strain grown: Blue Dream with 15% market share in flower sales 2023
- R&D licenses for breeding: 12 active, introducing 45 new cultivars 2023
- Water usage for cannabis grows: 1.2 billion gallons annually estimated 2023
- Energy consumption by grows: 1.5 TWh equivalent to 150,000 homes 2023
- Pesticide compliance violations: 45 in 2023 inspections
- Organic certified grows: 28 facilities representing 12% canopy 2023
- Average THC potency in MI flower: 24.2% in lab tests 2023
- Terpene profile testing: 85% compliance rate in 2023
- Wayne County cultivation canopy: 650,000 sq ft largest in state 2023
- Kent County produced 35,000 lbs flower 2023
- Ionia County leading rural grow hub with 200,000 sq ft canopy
- Hemp-cannabis crossover pilots: 15 licenses testing CBD strains 2023
- Yield increase from LED lighting: 18% in audited grows 2023
- Waste diversion rate in cultivation: 92% composted or recycled 2023
- CO2 enrichment used in 65% of indoor facilities boosting yields 12%
- Vertical farming pilots: 5 facilities adding 50,000 sq ft equivalent 2023
- Drought-resistant strains trialed on 10,000 sq ft reducing water 20% 2023
Cultivation and Production Interpretation
While Michigan's cannabis industry is growing like a proverbial weed—now farming enough flower to keep every citizen in a pleasant haze—the sobering stats on water and energy use remind us that even green industries must urgently grapple with their environmental footprint.
Employment
- Michigan cannabis industry employed over 44,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2023
- Direct jobs in retail dispensaries totaled 15,200 in Michigan end of 2023
- Cultivation and grow operations employed 12,500 workers in 2023
- Processing facilities jobs: 8,300 full-time in Michigan cannabis 2023
- Ancillary services like security and transport added 4,200 jobs in 2023
- Average wage in Michigan cannabis retail: $18.75/hour as of 2023 survey
- Grow workers average salary: $52,000 annually in Michigan 2023
- Trimmers and laborers: 3,100 seasonal jobs in harvest periods 2023
- Management positions in cannabis: 2,800 with average $85,000 salary 2023
- Compliance officers employed: 1,200 across licensees in 2023
- Job growth rate in Michigan cannabis: 22% YoY in 2023
- Wayne County cannabis jobs: 11,500 direct and indirect 2023
- Oakland County employed 7,200 in cannabis sector 2023
- Macomb County cannabis workforce: 5,100 in 2023
- Kent County jobs in cannabis: 3,900 end of 2023
- Washtenaw County employed 2,800 cannabis workers 2023
- Ingham County cannabis jobs totaled 2,400 in 2023
- Kalamazoo area cannabis employment: 2,100 jobs 2023
- Female employment in Michigan cannabis reached 48% of total workforce in 2023
- Minority-owned businesses employed 15% of workforce, 6,600 jobs in 2023
- Entry-level budtender jobs: 9,500 openings filled in 2023
- Extraction technicians: 1,800 specialized jobs in 2023
- Delivery driver positions grew to 900 in 2023 with new services
- Unemployment rate among cannabis workers: 2.1% below state average 2023
- Training programs graduated 4,200 workers into cannabis jobs in 2023
- Indirect jobs from supply chain: 15,000 estimated in 2023
- Q4 2023 job postings peaked at 1,200 monthly for retail
- Veteran employment in cannabis: 8% of workforce, 3,500 jobs 2023
Employment Interpretation
With its 44,000-strong workforce, Michigan's cannabis industry is now a serious economic engine, proving that from seed to sale, it's cultivating paychecks as reliably as it grows plants.
Licensing and Businesses
- As of January 2024, Michigan had 731 licensed recreational cannabis retailers
- Total active cannabis business licenses reached 1,984 in Q1 2024
- 449 medical-only dispensaries operated alongside dual-use in Michigan as of 2023 end
- Microbusiness licenses issued totaled 52 active in Michigan by end of 2023
- Class A grow licenses numbered 142, producing over 50% of canopy space in 2023
- Class B cultivation licenses stood at 78, with average canopy 25,000 sq ft
- Processor licenses active: 127 in Michigan 2023, handling 85% of concentrates
- Secure transporter licenses: 215 operational in 2023
- Safety compliance facilities licensed: 42 across Michigan in 2023
- New retail licenses approved: 112 in Q4 2023 alone
- Pending license applications exceeded 1,200 as of January 2024
- Municipalities allowing cannabis businesses: 310 out of 1,240 in Michigan 2023
- Detroit issued 25 new dispensary licenses in 2023
- Wayne County hosted 148 active retailers end of 2023
- Oakland County had 112 licensed dispensaries in 2023
- Macomb County retailers: 89 active in 2023
- Kent County dispensaries numbered 65 in 2023
- Washtenaw County had 42 licensed retailers 2023
- Ingham County retailers: 38 in 2023
- Kalamazoo County had 35 dispensaries licensed 2023
- Grow facilities total canopy space licensed: 2.1 million sq ft in Michigan 2023
- Average time to license approval: 18 months for retailers in 2023
- Revoked licenses in 2023: 27 for violations
- Temporary licenses converted to full: 320 in 2023
- Class C microbusiness licenses: 18 active 2023
- Infuser licenses: 19 operational in Michigan 2023
Licensing and Businesses Interpretation
Michigan's cannabis industry now resembles a thriving, albeit slightly congested, farmers' market where, despite over a thousand businesses sprouting up faster than weeds, everyone is still waiting politely in a line that's 18 months long to get their official badge to sell.
Revenue and Taxes
- Michigan collected $456.3 million in cannabis excise taxes in fiscal year 2023
- Total tax revenue from cannabis in Michigan for 2023 exceeded $500 million including sales taxes
- 10% excise tax on recreational cannabis generated $350 million in 2023
- Municipal local share taxes from cannabis totaled $45 million distributed to 270+ municipalities in 2023
- Medical cannabis excise tax of 6% brought in $106 million in 2023
- Sales tax on cannabis purchases added $85 million to state coffers in 2023 at 6% rate
- Wayne County received $12.5 million in local cannabis tax shares in 2023
- Oakland County local tax revenue from cannabis hit $8.9 million in 2023
- Macomb County garnered $6.2 million in cannabis local taxes for 2023
- Kent County collected $5.1 million from local cannabis taxes in 2023
- Washtenaw County received $4.3 million in cannabis tax distributions 2023
- Ingham County local cannabis taxes totaled $3.7 million in 2023
- Kalamazoo County got $3.2 million from cannabis local shares 2023
- Genesee County cannabis tax revenue was $2.9 million in 2023
- Ottawa County collected $2.4 million in local cannabis taxes 2023
- Saginaw County received $2.1 million from cannabis taxes in 2023
- Berrien County local tax share was $1.8 million for cannabis 2023
- Cannabis tax revenue per licensed store averaged $1.2 million in contributions statewide 2023
- FY2024 Q1 cannabis excise taxes collected $120.5 million, up 15% QoQ
- Local governments opting into cannabis taxes numbered 272 in 2023, receiving 30% share
- Total economic impact from cannabis taxes estimated at $750 million including indirect in 2023
- Excise tax remittances monthly averaged $38 million in late 2023
- Detroit city received $9.8 million in cannabis local taxes 2023 as largest share
- Grand Rapids collected $2.6 million from cannabis taxes in 2023
- Ann Arbor's cannabis tax revenue was $1.9 million in 2023
- Lansing received $1.5 million in local cannabis taxes 2023
- Cannabis taxes funded $20 million in community reinvestment grants in 2023
- State general fund received 45% of excise taxes totaling $205 million in 2023
- School aid fund got 35% of cannabis excise taxes, $159 million in 2023
- Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency budget from taxes was $25 million in FY2023
Revenue and Taxes Interpretation
Michigan is discovering that when you legalize cannabis, the real high comes from a staggering half-billion dollars in annual tax revenue that's busily repaving roads, funding schools, and bankrolling local budgets from Detroit to Grand Rapids.
Sales Data
- In 2023, Michigan's adult-use cannabis sales totaled $3.15 billion, marking a 25.5% increase from 2022
- Recreational cannabis sales in Michigan for December 2023 alone reached $265.7 million, up 6.2% from November 2023
- Medical cannabis sales in Michigan hit $69.4 million in December 2023, representing 20.7% of total monthly sales
- Michigan's total cannabis sales for the first half of 2023 exceeded $1.5 billion, with recreational dominating at 78%
- In October 2023, Wayne County accounted for 28.4% of all Michigan recreational cannabis sales at $70.1 million
- Oakland County saw $45.2 million in recreational sales in November 2023, second highest in the state
- Flower products made up 42.3% of total cannabis sales in Michigan in 2023, totaling approximately $1.33 billion
- Concentrates sales in Michigan reached $850 million in 2023, comprising 27% of market share
- Edibles sales grew 35% YoY in Michigan, hitting $420 million in 2023
- Pre-roll sales in Michigan increased by 48% in 2023 to $310 million
- Vapes accounted for 18.5% of sales in Q4 2023, totaling $145 million quarterly
- Beverages sales in Michigan cannabis market rose 62% to $25 million in 2023
- Topicals sales remained steady at $75 million annually in 2023, 2.4% of total
- Ingestibles category surged 40% YoY to $520 million in Michigan 2023
- Michigan cannabis sales per capita ranked 3rd nationally at $314 in 2023
- Daily average recreational sales in Michigan hit $8.6 million in December 2023
- Macomb County recreational sales reached $32.4 million in October 2023
- Kent County sales totaled $28.7 million in November 2023 for recreational
- Total sales in Washtenaw County for 2023 exceeded $120 million recreational
- Ingham County saw $95 million in recreational sales throughout 2023
- Kalamazoo County recreational sales hit $85 million in 2023
- Genesee County total cannabis sales for 2023 were $110 million
- Ottawa County recreational sales grew to $65 million in 2023, up 30% YoY
- Saginaw County sales reached $72 million recreational in 2023
- Berrien County saw $55 million in sales for 2023 recreational market
- Total Michigan cannabis sales in January 2024 hit $224 million, down slightly from December peak
- Q1 2023 recreational sales were $740 million statewide
- Flower sales in Q2 2023 totaled $320 million in Michigan
- Concentrates dropped to 25% market share in Q3 2023 at $210 million quarterly
- Edibles peaked at $115 million in Q4 2023 quarter
Sales Data Interpretation
Michigan’s cannabis market is not just growing like a weed but blooming with the precision of a cultivated industry, where recreational sales have clearly rooted themselves as the dominant strain, while edibles and pre-rolls are the fast-growing clones everyone wants a piece of.
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