Michigan Cannabis Business Blog

Michigan is now one of a few states around the country that has achieved legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana for a few years,

The Detroit Legacy Program is one of the more controversial municipal recreational marijuana ordinance to receive city council approval in this expanding new industry. Detroit

By: Scott Roberts and Louis Madigson Recently, the Michigan Legislature passed – and Governor Whitmer signed – farm bill legislation that categorizes all THC derivatives

The recent distinction of industrial hemp and products made from it as a separate agricultural crop from cannabis has spurred many Michiganders to get involved

By George Davis On July 14, 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a discussion draft of the “Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act”. The bill

As the cannabis industry continues to expand, the regulation of all things marijuana continues to be a growing task for the State of Michigan. As

By: Louis Magidson and Scott Roberts  Since the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which sought to stymie the entire hemp industry through excessive taxation in fear that industrial hemp would replace

By: Scott Roberts and Elijah Simkins As Michigan cannabis lawyers we’ve seen a lot of changes in the Michigan cannabis market and the rules governing the recreational market. This

The U.S. House of Representatives may very well vote to decriminalize marijuana, as well as provide a historical overhaul of the federal government’s treatment of

So you’ve decided you want to enter the Michigan cannabis industry. Maybe it’s because its one of the state’s fastest growing industries, or maybe you

By: Griffin Kas and Scott Roberts As Michigan cannabis attorneys, we get asked almost every single day about adult-use (or recreational) marijuana by both business

In the Michigan legal cannabis market, as with other states, municipalities hold the keys to kingdom with respect to licensing specific cannabis properties. What that

Come one, come all, the Michigan adult-use market is growing!  For months Andrew Brisbo, the director of the MRA, has strongly hinted that changes were

On April 8, 2020 the MRA released its latest bulletin regarding the phasing-out of caregiver product from the adult-use market. The bulletin specifically prohibited products

(Part 2 of 2) In Part 1 of this article, I talk about how increasing market share for market share’s sake is one of the

(Part 1 of 2) Like any new industry, the cannabis industry saw a flood of new entrants looking to make a quick buck off the

Despite striking differences between the two concepts, most people still believe that vaping and smoking are the same thing. Smoking is derived from the root

One of the big questions looming over the cannabis industry is what happens after federal legalization. As a cannabis business attorney, I am asked this

There has been a lot written about the issues cannabis companies have with banking in the U.S. Most of these articles talk about cannabis growers

As someone with strong connections to both dispensary owners as well as cannabis consumers, I often hear complaints about cannabis pricing in the current market.

The long awaited Deruiter decision was just announced by the Michigan Supreme Court, and the decision was yet another blow to Michigan caregivers operating under

If you look back at the past decade, one topic that has come about increasingly in conversation is CBD oil. With the legalization of CBD

Supply and Demand in Michigan Recreational and medicinal cannabis are still in high demand in Michigan, and dispensaries remain an essential business while many non-cannabis

Do you see cannabis dispensaries opening up around you? Are you wondering what will be the future of these dispensaries? Cannabis has been in a

Financing any business isn’t a walk in the park. And it’s even harder for a business that’s considered high-risk, such as a marijuana dispensary. The

Today, the State of Michigan officially declared a “shelter in place” order in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, also known as the “coronavirus.”

Needing insurance is like needing a parachute.  If it isn’t there the first time, chances are you won’t be needing it again.  Too often is

In the past two years, Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency and its predecessor has licensed numerous marijuana facilities under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, or

Michigan’s two marijuana licensing statutes—the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (“MMFLA”) and Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (“MRTMA”) place limits on the number

The legalization of hemp-based CBD oil through the Farm bill in 2018 marked the beginning of an influx in CBD products and cultivation. The industry

Many cannabis investors interested in getting into the industry have used the stock market as a way to invest in North America’s growing marijuana industry. 

Earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) launched an industrial hemp pilot program. MDARD recently released the emergency rules related

Earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) launched an industrial hemp pilot program.  Last week, MDARD released the emergency rules

Congratulations, you’ve successfully become an MRA approved State of Michigan licensed Marijuana Grower! Now what? The first obstacle many state licensed Growers face is where

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency recently put out new rules that will initially govern Michigan’s “adult use” cannabis market. Included in these rules was several new

The Emergency Rules issued by the Marijuana Regulatory Agency under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (“MRTMA”) were released on July 3rd, 2019.

When evaluating a Michigan marijuana real estate opportunity, one of the first questions we ask is “is it contingent?” What this question really means is

As a cannabis attorney, you hear many horror stories from hemp and marijuana licensees. These horror stories can range from massive safety testing failures, incorrectly designed

On April 18, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced the launch of the state’s Industrial Hemp

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and the legalization of the commercial hemp market in the United States, you would think that transporting

One of the major hurdles for Michigan cannabis business owners is finding financing for their medical and recreational marijuana projects. Due to the fact that

Recent polling data shows that Americans and Canadians alike are incredibly concerned about the safety of their medical and recreational marijuana purchases. With local news

In November, Michigan voters approved a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana called the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, or the MRTMA. However, the

After deciding to start a Michigan Cannabis business, one of the crucial next steps is choosing the right corporate structure for your business. To make

As one of his final moves in office, former Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill that amended sections of the MMFLA. The amendments were signed

If you are looking to enter the Michigan cannabis industry, the first step will likely be to apply for a medical marijuana license. Except for

LARA recently released new guidelines for safety and compliance testing of marijuana and marijuana infused products. The first thing that jumped off the page in

“Where can I put my money?” is one of the most prevalent questions in the cannabis industry. As licensed cannabis business attorneys our clients ask

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

If you are like us, you were probably glued to election results on Tuesday, frantically refreshing your computer or phone, flipping through channels, or listening

Building an indoor cannabis facility is not cheap. In my experience as a cannabis attorney, Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (“MMFLA”) and Michigan Regulationa and

In this age of advancing technology, social medial has become an essential part of our day-to-day lives. It influences the service providers we choose—from MMJ

By now you’ve probably heard of Proposal 1, which will be on the ballot this November (also referred to as the Michigan Regulation and Taxation

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

Dialing back previous guidance that gave temporary operators until December 15h to obtain an MMFLA license, LARA released guidance moving the temporary authorization deadline forward

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs released a new set of draft rules to replace the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (“MMFLA”) Emergency Rules.

Marijuana stocks are all the rage in the United States and Canada, with cannabis companies being traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and

Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) recently put out an advisory bulletin explaining the importance of processing safe, edible medical marihuana products. This

Understanding what can be done with a commercial cannabis license under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) is crucial for those who are interested

The August 9th, 2018 meeting of the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation Licensing Board was mostly in line with previous meetings. Once again, the biggest

So you’re thinking about entering the commercial cannabis industry, either in a medical marijuana state or a recreational marijuana state. Maybe you go to a

The MMFLA application for Michigan medical marihuana facility licensing is both intricate and detailed. The MMFLA application is divided into two parts—the prequalification step and

Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs officially added eleven new conditions to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment

With all the buzz around Medical Marijuana (MMJ), many wonder how these laws actually work in practice and who enforces them. In 2008, Michigan began

The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation Licensing Board (BMMR) met on July 12, 2018 to discuss the prequalification applications of 19 commercial medical marijuana applicants.

With the Michigan medical marijuana industry set to take off over the next few years, most Michigan marijuana entrepreneurs are focused on making sure that

Almost every single day we either hear about a new municipal opportunities for businesses looking to site medical marijuana provisioning centers, growing facilities, or processing

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, also known as “LARA”, first released the state MMFLA application in early December and started accepting applications within

While the future of the Michigan cannabis industry is bright, a lot of uncertainty remains in the commercial market. From news reports that the legislature

Setting yourself up for a successful medical marijuana business requires more than just savvy business sense and knowledge of the Michigan marijuana industry.  As with

Marijuana is coming to the Michigan electoral ballot this November, and we have been getting questions daily from medical marijuana clients and prospective marijuana business

An Overview and Summary of Common Compliance Issues After witnessing a LARA provisioning center inspection firsthand, I thought it would be good idea to provide

It’s happening more often that you’d think – LARA and the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) are denying Part 1 prequalification applications at pretty

The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) met this past week to discuss the prequalification applications of 19 commercial medical marijuana applicants, as well as

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

Yesterday, May 30th, 2018, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (“LARA”) made the decision to extend the June 15th deadline requiring all provisioning

Michigan medical marijuana companies seeking investors need to know that negotiating a successful pre-revenue investment will almost certainly be a “give and take” process. Because

One of the biggest components of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) Part 2 application is the “facility plan”. However, as the Part 2

On May 17, 2018, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) released inspection guides for all 5 license types under the MMFLA (i.e. provisioning

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

Submitting a Part 1 application under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) can feel like a monumental task, but without proper assistance, the Part

A hot topic in the nightly news and the medical marijuana industry alike is the new ballot initiative for the 2018 November election, “Regulate Marijuana

The passage of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA), which created a commercial licensing structure for Michigan Medical Marijuana businesses, required support from both

Under current Michigan medical marijuana law, in order to file an application for a Michigan medical marijuana facility, you have to submit documentation for every

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

Due to legal and regulatory changes in the industry, including the 2018 Farm Bill and recent changes in the implementation of Michigan’s 2014 Industrial Hemp

One of the biggest ballot initiatives planned for the Michigan 2018 election is the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (RMLA) Act.  If passed, the RMLA would

Many medical marijuana businesses are operating within medical marijuana laws in Michigan and are in the process of obtaining their Michigan Medical Marijuana License pursuant

You’ve decided that medical marijuana is a growing industry and you want to get your license for a medical marijuana facility…but where do you get

The State of Michigan prevents people with certain criminal convictions (and also seemingly their spouses) from owning or even working at a marijuana facility under

Most medical marijuana attorneys and patients know that Michigan is considering voting to legalize Marijuana for recreational use. This has led many medical marijuana lawyers

This article was published several months before the MMFLA Emergency Rules were released. It is now clear that not only may local police shut down

One question that is commonly asked by small business owners is whether they should hold shares of their business in a revocable, (aka “living”) trust.

In 2013, Michigan passed its own version of the “JOBS Act” crowdfunding exemption called the “Michigan Invests Locally Exemption Act”, or “MILE Act”.  There are