Record High: Michigan Marijuana Sales Hit $3 Billion

Since marijuana became legal in Michigan back in 2018, cannabis stores have spread like a weed (heh) around the state. It feels like dispensaries are on every corner, and half the billboards you pass are telling you where the nearest dispensary is. So it should come as no surprise to learn that 2023 was another dope year for the cannabis industry.

2023 Earnings

Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency reported that the total sales in Michigan for 2023 were just over 3 billion dollars ($3,057,161,285.85), a huge increase from the $2.29 billion earned in 2022.

Interestingly, medical marijuana makes up a minuscule portion of Michigan's sales, only accounting for 1 whole percent of the market (recreational made up the other 99%). December of 2023 capped the record year off with a record of its own, producing the largest single-month earnings at $272.7 million.

Why so many dispensaries?

While the obvious answer is to make a profit in a booming market, the other answer could be because of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. This act gives more than $59,000 in payments to 99 cities, 30 villages, 69 townships, and 71 counties.

READ MORE: Is It Legal to Smoke Weed at Outdoor Concert Venues in Michigan?

2023 saw more than $290.3 million in distribution to these locations, with Wayne, Washtenaw, Kent, and Oakland counties receiving the most of any county in the state, while Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Grand Rapids received the most of any city in the state.

After hearing this, it's hard to argue that stoners have never done anything for society.