Overview
On Tuesday, November 24, 2020, the Detroit City Council passed the Medical Marijuana Facilities and Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments ordinance authorizing the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) to issue business licenses for co-location, and adult-use marijuana establishments including grower, processor, retailer, secure transporter, safety compliance facility, microbusiness, marijuana event organizer, temporary marijuana event, and designated consumption establishments. This ordinance also requires that:
- Detroit Legacy applicants will get a minimum of 50% of all newly created recreational marijuana business licenses for retailers, growers, processors, microbusinesses, designated consumption, and marijuana event organizers issued in Detroit.
- There will be a six-week exclusive early licensing period for Detroit Legacy applicants.
- Detroit Legacy will be able to purchase city-owned land at 25% of fair market value.
- The City will work with philanthropy and private lenders to develop sources of funding and expertise to back Detroit-owned marijuana business start-ups.
Applicant Definitions
Detroit Legacy Certified Applicant:
The City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity (CRIO) department will begin certification of Detroit Legacy applicants on January 19, 2021. To qualify as a Detroit Legacy applicant, individuals must currently reside in Detroit, and be able to document that they:
- Lived in Detroit for 15 of the last 30 years, or
- Lived in Detroit for 13 of the last 30 years and are low income, or
- Lived in Detroit for 10 of the last 30 years and have a marijuana conviction or have a parent with a marijuana conviction.
General Applicant:
Any applicant not certified by (CRIO) as a Detroit Legacy applicant.
Types of Available Licenses
| License Type | Number of Licenses Available |
| Medical Marijuana Provisioning Center | 75 |
| Adult-Use Retailer Establishment | 75 |
| Grower | Unlimited |
| Processor | Unlimited |
| Secured Transporter | Unlimited |
| Safety Compliance Facility | Unlimited |
| Designated Consumption Lounge | 35 |
| Microbusiness | 35 |
| Marijuana Event Organizer | Unlimited |
| Temporary Marijuana Event | Unlimited |
License Process
Detroit Legacy Applicant License Process (land): View Here
Detroit Legacy Applicant Provisional License Process (no land): View Here
General Applicant License Process: View Here
Application Periods
Applications for Detroit Legacy Certification open on January 19, 2021. Applications for recreational marijuana licenses will be reviewed over three periods:
Detroit Legacy applicants:
Application period: April 1, 2021 – April 30, 2021
Application review begins May 1, 2021
General applicants with existing medical marijuana license:
Application period: April 1, 2021 – April 30, 2021
Application review begins June 16, 2021
General applicants without existing medical marijuana license:
Application period: April 1, 2021 – ongoing
Application review begins August 1, 2021
Detroit Legacy Applicant Benefits
- 75% discount on city-owned land
- Up to 99% discount on license fees
- Technical assistance for Detroit-owned marijuana business start-ups
- Financial assistance for Detroit-owned marijuana business start-ups