Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Michigan Sustaining $7M Per Week

Recreational cannabis sales in Michigan have sustained more than $7 million per week over the last month, Crain’s Detroit Business reports. From April 13 to April 19, sales reached $7.2 million and remained above that mark through the week ending May 10, when sales topped $7.9 million. 

Legal sales in the state began December 1, and totaled $1.6 million during that first week, reaching $5.77 million by March 16-22. Weekly sales dipped below $5 million until April 13, which could be due to the state’s stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on March 23. 

The governor did deem the cannabis industry essential but shut down in-person sales, opting instead for curbside pickup and delivery services. The mid-April spike – reportedly 57 percent from the week prior – could also be attributed to the 4/20 holiday. 

Rick Thompson, owner of Michigan Cannabis Business Development Group, said it was “fair to say that during any crisis people use intoxicants more than normal.”

“Once social distancing is lifted and industry returns to normal, the recreational industry will rise like a cork from the bottom of a bathtub faster than any other industry would recover.” – Thompson to the Detroit News

David Harns, Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesman, told the News that adult-use sales were allowed to continue amid the pandemic because they often share space with medical cannabis providers. 

Since March 9, recreational cannabis sales comprised 60 percent of overall sales, according to the Detroit News. Cannabis retail licensing also spiked 70 percent from 61 on March 2 to 104 on May 12.   

Since December 1, Michigan cannabis retailers have totaled nearly $91.6 million in sales, the report says. The state has seen about $15 million in combined sales and excise taxes.