Marijuana Regulatory Agency

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On August 30, 2022, the Wayne County Circuit Court issued rulings denying injunctive relief to several cannabis companies that challenged the implementation of the City of Detroit’s adult-use cannabis ordinance (the “Ordinance”). In addition to denying motions for preliminary injunctions, the Court also dismissed the cases entirely. In doing so, the court reached several conclusions that are at odds with a full reading of Michigan’s cannabis statutes and rules. The opinions can be found here: Case No. 22-006534-CZ Jars Holding LLC et al v. City of Detroit; and here: Case No. 22-00594-CZ House of Dank et al v. City of Detroit.

Following these rulings, the City began accepting adult-use applications on September 1 and will accept applications until September 30. It has been a long and torturous route to get to this point.
Continue Reading Detroit Opens Adult-Use Retail Licensing After Victory in Court

MRA - CRA

Effective April 13, 2022, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency has a new name—the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. On February 11, 2022, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order No. 2022-1, which made a number of significant changes to various Michigan administrative agencies.  

Notably, the Executive Order re-named the Marijuana Regulatory Agency to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (“CRA”) and transferred the regulation and oversight of industrial hemp processing from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (“MDARD”) to CRA. Regulatory oversight and licensure of industrial hemp cultivation will remain with MDARD. 
Continue Reading Agency Name Change: Meet the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency

On March 24, 2022, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) announced record-breaking sales numbers in Michigan’s adult-use industry for the previous year. In just the second full year of licensed adult-use marijuana operations, the MRA reported that sales of adult-use marijuana exceeded $1.1 billion for fiscal year 2021.

Local governments are set to receive tens of millions of dollars thanks to the revenue-sharing provisions in the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (“MRTMA”). The MRTMA establishes a 10% excise tax on the retail sale of adult-use marijuana. Excise tax revenues are dedicated to Michigan schools and roads, and a significant portion is distributed to local municipalities and counties that have adult-use marijuana retailers and microbusinesses in their jurisdictions.
Continue Reading Michigan Adult-Use Marijuana Sales Exceed $1B in 2021, Creating Millions of Dollars for Schools, Municipalities, and Roads

On November 17, 2021, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) issued a recall of cannabis products that were tested at Viridis Laboratories, LLC and Viridis North, LLC between August 10, 2021, and November 16, 2021. The full impact at this point is still unknown. On November 23, 2021, Viridis Laboratories, LLC and Viridis North, LLC commenced a lawsuit against the MRA and some of its officials to challenge the MRA’s recall. The suit alleges that the scope of the recall covers nearly 65,000 pounds of cannabis flower worth nearly $230M.
Continue Reading Retesting Requirements if Impacted by the Michigan Cannabis Recall

On Monday, September 27, 2021, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (“MRA”) held a public hearing to receive comments on a series of proposed changes to the administrative rules that govern medical and adult-use marijuana businesses. We previously covered an overview of the proposed changes in our five-part blog series in the days leading up to public hearing. The proposed rules concern significant changes to the following rule sets: licenses, licensees, operations, testing, infused products, sale or transfer, employees, hearings, disciplinary proceedings, and declaratory rulings.Continue Reading Marijuana Regulatory Agency Holds Public Hearing On Proposed Administrative Rule Changes