Detroit Recreational Marijuana Ordinance

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.

A copy of the final ordinance can be found here

For more information, visit Detroit Means Business

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 starting 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 marihuana conviction or have a parent with a marihuana conviction.

General Applicant:

Any applicant not certified by (CRIO) as a Detroit Legacy applicant.

Application Periods

Applications for recreational marijuana licenses will be reviewed over three periods:

• Detroit Legacy applicants:
  • Legacy Detroit certification applications can be submitted to CRIO beginning January 19, 2021
  • 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

• 99% discount on licensing fees in 2021 and 75% discount on licensing fees in 2022
• 75% discount on city-owned land  
  • For more information, contact: 313-224-4514, Detroit Building Authority Real Estate Office

Types of Available Licenses

License Process

Detroit Legacy Applicant License Process (Location already identified and secured)

Detroit Legacy Applicant Provisional License Process (Location NOT already identified and secured)

General Applicant License Process

Existing Medical Marijuana Facility Licensees

For questions about the licensing process, please contact: 313-224-3179 (BSEED Licensing and Permits)