It was something of a debacle – now serving as the nation’s model of what NOT to do when introducing recreational marijuana.

Then again, by the time you potentially get a license, things will surely be better, right?

We hope so.

Whatever the case, if you’re serious about getting a license, we’ll take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions and give you our best answers.

1. How Do I Get a Recreational Marijuana Business License?

Very well then. We’ll start with the most obvious question first.

Get familiar with the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency – the MRA. Because you’ll be seeing a lot of them.

There are multiple steps in the application process. The first of which is paying a $6,000 application fee and completing the pre-qualification phase that involves a heavy-duty background check.

It’s like the bathing suit competition in the Miss America pageant – except not gross and sexist. (At least one can assume.)

Then the second step focuses on your type of business and requires you to supply information about the operational plan, facilities, projected sales, and employee information.

Your business has to be inspected within 60 days of submitting the completed second step application. If approved, get ready to shell out some cash. The licensing fee could cost up to $40,000 for the first year.

Here’s another obstacle.

Unless you’re getting a license for a marijuana event, class A grower, or micro-business, you must already be licensed under the medical marijuana laws.

Wait, what?

2. Do Most Recreational Licenses Require a Prior Medical License?

Yep. For now.

While this requirement expires on Dec. 6, 2021, it’s in place now just to provide for a smoother licensing process (if there is such a thing).

The thinking is – the MRA will already have a ton of your important information on file. There’s also some political motivation behind this though.

Those who created the ballot initiative wanted support from the medical marijuana industry – the business owners of which were already heavily invested in marijuana activity.

This requirement would ensure that those businesses could stay out ahead of competitors who may be newly dipping into the market.

Of the current 350 businesses that hold medical marijuana licenses, it’s expected that the majority will also apply for recreational licenses.

3. So Then What Is a Micro-Business?

There are recreational licenses for a variety of activities. A grower will have one license while a processor, tester, and event organizer will each have another.

The micro-business license, on the other hand, is a small business license that allows for multiple activities.

It allows the owner to grow, process, and sell up to 150 plants from a single business as long as it’s self-contained and the owner doesn’t sell or transfer product to other retailers.

It’s rather like the microbrewery of marijuana.

But with this license, you are unable to hold other licenses for growing, processing, testing, transporting, or retailing. So there.

4. Is There a Difference between Medical and Recreational Marijuana?

Recreational marijuana comes with a djembe drum, a bag of Cheetos, and a Mexican blanket autographed by Snoop Dog.

No, not really.

Honestly, there is no physical or chemical difference between the two. There is a price difference though.

That’s because recreational marijuana is subject to a 10% excise tax.

The main distinction has nothing to do with strain or potency, but rather lies with the license under which the marijuana is grown and sold.

A medical marijuana dispensary may not sell marijuana grown under a recreational license any more than a recreational-only retailer can sell products grown under a medical license.

For now, it is possible for a business to be licensed to grow or sell both. But the MRA requires these businesses to separate medical from recreational product on the shelves.

5. How Is Money from the Excise Tax Allocated?

There’s a marijuana regulation fund that pays for the cost of the MRA’s activities.

Once those expenses are covered, the law requires that $20 million per year until 2022 be spent on medical trials to test marijuana health applications.

The remainder is broken down into the following:

• 15% to counties, proportioned based on the number of micro-businesses and retailers
• 15% to communities that allow recreational business, proportioned based on the number of micro-businesses and retailers
• 35% to the Michigan Transportation Fund for road and bridge repair
• 35% to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education

Looks like we’re going to “fix those damn roads” after all. Well, maybe.

Feeling More Informed?

The world of recreational marijuana is still in its Wild West phase.

But if you feel you’re well-positioned to get a recreational marijuana business license, then by all means, have at it!

We wish you the best of luck.

And when you’re ready for top-notch cannabis marketing and public relations, we’re here for you. It’s not just our specialty – it’s our passion.

Contact us today to learn more.

The post Looking to Get a Recreational Marijuana Business License? appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Yeah, it was only five months ago. And since that time, many communities have voted to outright ban the sale of marijuana.

But there’s been a lot of back and forth in some communities about whether they want provisioning centers within their borders.

One such community is Chesterfield Township.

Back in December, they were among the growing number of Michigan communities moving to ban marijuana establishments within their municipality.

So to address these concerns, the Chesterfield Township Cannabis Licensing Work Group was formed.

The Purpose of the Chesterfield Township Cannabis Licensing Work Group

Once Proposal 1 passed, Chesterfield Township Supervisor Dan Acciavatti appointed a cannabis committee that would form community policy for the board to consider the operation of marijuana facilities in the township.

“This does not by any way, shape or form mean that Chesterfield will not participate with this program,” Acciavatti said last fall, regarding the move to ban marijuana facilities. “This can be revisited or relooked at.”

Then in February, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Bureau of Marijuana Regulation put out a call for those interested in taking part in adult-use marijuana stakeholder work groups being facilitated for licensees, attorneys, municipalities and individuals or businesses.

The purpose of the work groups is to gather information – seeking input on the rules that would govern the licensing of facilities.

Chesterfield Township felt it was important to have a seat at that table to provide input and communicate their concerns.

And this Monday, April 22nd, they will be holding an event at 6pm at the Municipal Building at 47275 Sugarbush Road – specifically for this purpose.

Employing the Expertise of Barton W. Morris, Jr.

When Brad Kersten, head of the Chesterfield Township Cannabis Committee, understood his township was serious about potentially licensing provisioning centers, grow houses, and possibly other cannabis Industry entities, he decided to reach out to the leading legal expert in the state.

So he contacted Barton W. Morris, Jr., founder and CEO of Cannabis Legal Group in Royal Oak.

Morris has a remarkable track record in the field since he first became involved in 2008, when the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was enacted. In addition, he is a member on the Board of The Marijuana Law Section of The State Bar of Michigan.

“If we are going to consider opting in, we decided it was best for our Cannabis Committee, as well as the community, to hear from Barton W. Morris, Jr.,” said Kersten, who is also the former Chesterfield Township Public Safety Director.

And Morris was happy to comply.

“Chief Kersten graciously invited me to do an informational presentation regarding Medical and Recreational Marijuana Licensing,” said Morris.

“Having been involved with numerous committees on a local and statewide platform, it will be my honor to meet with the committee and residents and happily answer their questions.”

Interested and concerned Chesterfield Township residents alike should strongly consider attending the event this Monday.

Are You Facing the Challenges of Running a Cannabis Business?

There are definitely challenges in this industry that don’t exist in others.

But marketing your cannabis business doesn’t have to be one of them. Contact us today to help you reevaluate your current strategies.

And as long-time supporters of the cannabis industry, we salute the Chesterfield Township Cannabis Licensing Work Group for taking the time to be open and informed before making decisions.

The post Chesterfield Township Cannabis Licensing Work Group to Hold Event appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Since the city proposed its medical marijuana ordinance, over 167 dispensaries in the city of Detroit have been shut down. Officials are saying that these dispensaries were operating illegally, but others say that dispensaries getting shut down because of the new zoning laws have become a little too common, thus becoming a tad suspicious.

Since March of 2016, teams of inspectors have been bombarding local dispensary businesses alerting them, without warning, that they need to shut down their business immediately because of claims that said businesses don’t have the proper business licenses in order to operate medical marijuana stores. Along with these claims, zoning laws have also become a huge issue in the city.

These strict zoning laws that have been set in place are so strict, no cannabis business are allowed within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, parks, liquor stores, and libraries. Because of the outrage on how strict this ordinance has become, the City put in place an opportunity for an appeal. Store operators are able to apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance to operate within these restricted boundaries, but it seems as though that this is just to help calm down those who are upset about these restrictions.

Long time Detroiter and cannabis smoker, Grant Williams stated, “I’ve lived in Midtown for almost four years now and I’ve seen almost every dispensary within a two mile radius get shut down out of nowhere because of these extreme ‘zoning laws’.” His frustration coincides with thousands of others. With a city who declared cannabis to be decriminalized, it seems as though Detroit is more strict than ever when it comes to cracking down on cannabis.  With legalization being on the ballot this coming November, it will be interesting see how these zoning issues will be impacted or if they’ll stay the same even with the (possible) legalization.

The post Zoning Issues and Marijuana Dispensaries appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

She said one application was for the owner of GreenTransport Services Michael Densmore. He wanted to receive a license to be a secure transporter of medical cannabis to other cannabis businesses. After reviewing his application and performing a background check, the board discovered a 20-year-old misdemeanor Densmore failed to disclose.

“I’ve had a gun permit continuously since 1999,” said Densmore. “I’ve got a liquor license, a DNR license, a lottery license. I’m a law-abiding citizen. I had no idea there was anything out there like this. We’ll address it and take care of it.”

Gray said the other application belonged to the owner of TJM Enterprises Tim McGraw who wanted to open a dispensary. After performing a background check on McGraw, the board discovered he had a possession of marijuana charge on his record and did not approve his license.

Gray said the applications aren’t completely denied with no chance of approval. McGraw and Densmore are expected to appear at the next board meeting in April for reconsideration of their applications. Retired Michigan State Police Officer and current Licensing Board Member Don Bailey said he believes their applications should be disqualified.

“It’s the omission that’s troubling to me,” said Bailey.

Along with this, Board Member for Michigan NORML Rick Thomspon said it’s a bit discouraging that the board only considered two applications during their meeting since they only meet nine times a year, but he believes the board will begin accomplishing some substantial work.

The post The Very First Two Licensing Applications Temporarily Denied appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

An article from smallbusiness.findlaw.com states there are multiple types of marijuana businesses, each with their own challenges, costs and regulatory requirements. These types include cultivation, product manufacturing, retail sales, delivery services, testing facilities, specialized equipment and technology.

They report if your applying for a marijuana business license, you must first decide what type of business you want to start, and then consider a couple of other things. You must consider the cost of rent, utilities, licenses, payroll and security. You must fit the residency requirements which usually require marijuana business operators to have residency in the state. You must not have a criminal record, in most cases. You must prepare to wait several months for licensing approval and you must consider investors and partners for your business.

An article from CBS Detroit states that February 15 was that last day for medical marijuana license applicants to submit their paperwork to Michigan. They explain how this was a pre-application that must prove the facility will have local approval before it can get a state business license.

They report that proposed facilities must stop operating if they did not apply by February 15, and if a business is denied a license or not issued one by June 15, they will have to face law enforcement.

As to what the future holds, CBS Detroit writes, “A five-tiered licensing system is being developed under a 2016 law that further regulated medical marijuana and aimed to address confusion.” They report this new law will impose a 3 percent tax on provisioning centers and establish a licensing system to grow, process, sell, transport and test marijuana. They state current rules will remain in effect until at least June or when permanent rules are finalized.

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