Michigan Cannabis Regulators Propose Two New License Types

Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Authority has released proposals to expand the number of adult-use cannabis license types by two and lower application fees and license renewal costs, M-Live reports.

The marijuana educational research license would allow schools to purchase cannabis for educational and research purposes from licensed Michigan cannabis producers. However, schools are often hesitant to work with cannabis due to federal restrictions, the report notes. Things like student loans and grants may be affected if schools have large amounts of cannabis on campus, said Northern Michigan University (NMU) cannabis educator Derek Hall.

According to Hall, NMU’s program uses plants other than cannabis to conduct classes. “Currently, we follow the federal guidelines related to cannabis,” he said in the report M-Live. “We do have trace amounts for laboratory use. Those amounts are very, very small.”

The second new license type would expand an existing license category called the Class A micro-business license. The new license would expand the number of allowable plants for micro-business licensees from 150 to 300. Unlike the existing micro-business license, the new Class A license does not allow in-house cannabis processing. Instead, Class A micro-businesses can purchase edibles and concentrates from other Michigan processors.

According to Michigan NORML executive director Rick Thompson:

“[The] class A micro business can double the cultivation output while also selling any other regulated supplier’s non-flower products. This is huge. It makes the existing micro business license undesirable and obsolete.” — Thompson, via M-Live

Under the proposals, application fees are reduced from $6,000 to $3,000. Other license type fees are cut with Class C growing licenses dropping from $40,000 to $24,000. Similarly, processor licenses are reduced from $40,000 to $24,000 and retail, transportation, and lab licenses drop from $21,000 to $15,000.

The agency is accepting public comment on the new rules until September 27. There will be a public hearing on September 27 for those wanting to testify in person on the new rule changes, according to the report.