Current Issues

There's a lot going on in the world of cannabis. So much, in fact, that we cannot fit everything on one page.

Click below to track what's going on with cannabis regulations at various levels of government.


Local


State


Federal

This page is maintained by the WMCG's Policy & Endorsements Committee. There are many cannabis-related bills and policies in process that are not listed on these pages. If you are aware of recent changes that aren't reflected here, or legislation that is very important, please let us know.

Municipal Statistics 

As of April 2023 (per Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency statistical reports):

There are 1,773 municipalities in the State of Michigan.

Of those, 170 have "opted in" to allow the legal cannabis industry to grow, process, sell, transport, and/or test medical cannabis products. That's just over 9% of communities. 1,603 have opted out.

132 communities have "opted in" to allow the legal cannabis industry to grow, process, sell, transport, and/or test adult use (aka recreational) cannabis products. That represents just over 7% of all communities in the State.
1,374 have "opted out." 267 have taken no action,.

The licensed cannabis industry also currently provides 30,729 direct jobs across Michigan. Not bad for a new industry!

Statewide, 63% of voters approved medical cannabis (the MMMA) in 2008, and 56% approved adult-use cannabis (the MRTMA) in 2018. There is strong local support in many communities to allow the legal, licensed cannabis industry to operate.

If your community's elected officials have not yet decided to opt in and allow the licensed cannabis industry to operate within your municipality, let us know! Your voice is important... and can be made more effective by joining the Guild. 

Another interesting statistic:

At the beginning of March 2021, the State of Michigan sent its first excise tax share disbursement of $28,001.32 per licensed retailer or microbusiness, to communities around the State. This represents a potentially significant amount of unrestricted funds, which can typically be used by communities for anything in their budget. At a WMCG webinar with MRA Director Andrew Brisbo in September 2021, he estimated the next disbursement to be larger than before. Indeed, in March 2022, the State's next disbursement came to $56,453.44 per licensed retailer or microbusiness.

In late February 2023, the State disbursed a total of $59,513,709.08 to communities that have legalized the cannabis industry, a rate of $51,841.23 per licensed retailer or microbusiness.

Is your city/town/village council not sure whether the municipality should opt in? Almost $52k per year, per retailer/microbusiness, might help. 

As of April 2023, there are 662 licensed retailers and 10 licensed microbusinesses, statewide. (Click for a map).

In 2024... how many hundreds of thousands of dollars could your community receive? 

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Regulations affect the cannabis industry in big ways. You're on this page- so you recognize the importance of keeping track. The best way to help the Guild follow and report these important stats and figures is to come to a meeting of the Policy & Endorsement Committee. All members (join here) are welcome and encouraged to take part.

The committee meets quarterly. Information & meeting calendar

Other Important Issues

Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids

Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids (DNGR) is an educational and advocacy campaign with a goal to improve Grand Rapids resident health including depression, end-of-life anxiety/suffering, and addiction. The campaign seeks to decriminalize natural entheogens to improve community health, anaims to educate the Greater Grand Rapids community about the therapeutic potential, history of indigenous use, and approaches to safe and responsible use of entheogenic plants and fungi. These include psilocybin mushrooms, Iboga, mescaline-containing cacti, and ayahuasca. Entheogens show great promise to help treat many current mental health problems.

There are many parallels between the campaign to decriminalize cannabis in Grand Rapids (a successful effort led by the founders of the WMCG, among others), and we are in full support of DNGR's efforts. Our members and board members have spoken in support of DNGR at Grand Rapids City Commission hearings and elsewhere in the community, and we encourage all of our members to support (and donate, if possible) to this important cause.

Learn more about Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids at their website, www.decrimnaturegr.org.

DETROIT! Congratulations to the citizens of Detroit (and thanks to all the hard work of the Decriminalize Nature group there!) for voting on November 2, 2021 to decriminalizpersonal possession and therapeutic use of plant-based psychedelics such as psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline. Let's do it in West Michigan too!

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INTRODUCED Michigan Senate Bill 631

Senators Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) have introduced a bill in the State Senate that would legalize the possession, cultivation and delivery of an array of plant- and fungus-derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline.

The bill does not legalize the commercial production or sale, but it does exempt people from criminal penalties for such activities so long as they are not “receiving money or other valuable consideration for the entheogenic plant or fungus.

People would be able to charge a “reasonable fee for counseling, spiritual guidance, or a related service that is provided in conjunction with the use of an entheogenic plant or fungus under the guidance and supervision of an individual providing the service.”

The full text of the bill is available online here, and the next step for the bill will be review by the State's Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyFind your State Senator on our website to let them know how you feel about this bill.

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