Michigan has now surpassed $17 billion in combined adult-use and medical marijuana sales, according to a new monthly report released today by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). Those sales have generated an estimated $2.66 billion in state excise and sales taxes.
Adult-use marijuana sales reached $258,791,318 during August, while medical marijuana facility sales totaled $295,941.18, bringing combined sales for the month to approximately $259.09 million. Adult-use sales since the market launched have now reached more than $15.41 billion, while medical marijuana facility sales to date total more than $1.63 billion, putting combined cumulative sales at approximately $17.04 billion.
Flower remained Michigan’s largest adult-use product category by revenue, generating $104.95 million in August from 108,719 pounds sold. Vape cartridges generated another $50.44 million, followed by inhalable compound concentrates at $44.81 million. Shake and trim sales totaled $21.25 million, infused edibles brought in $21.24 million and concentrates accounted for $13.51 million.
The average retail price for an ounce of adult-use marijuana flower was $60.33 during the month. Adult-use delivery transactions generated approximately $3.43 million in sales, while retailers also sold 1,702 immature plants for $42,346.
Medical marijuana prices remained higher, with the average retail flower price listed at $79.96 per ounce. Medical flower generated $107,229 in sales during August, while vape cartridges accounted for $101,941. Medical marijuana deliveries totaled $11,061.87.
The CRA report also shows significant differences in sales across Michigan. The East and Southeast region led the state with $98.26 million in adult-use sales during August, followed by the Southwest at $85.39 million. The Upper Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula region generated $30.14 million, Wayne County recorded $29.71 million and the Mid Lower region reported $15.28 million.
Michigan had 2,155 active adult-use licenses as of August 31. That included 845 retailers, 803 Class C marijuana growers, 268 processors, 69 Class B growers, 61 excess growers, 22 secure transporters and 19 safety compliance facilities. The state also had 10 Class A growers, 10 Class A microbusinesses, six microbusinesses, six designated consumption establishments, one educational research license and 31 marijuana event organizers.
During August, the CRA received 52 initial adult-use licensing applications and issued 69 initial licenses, with no initial applications denied. Regulators also received 138 renewal applications, issued 149 renewals and denied four. Retailers accounted for 48 renewal applications and 51 renewals issued, while Class C growers accounted for 50 applications and 60 renewals issued.
The industry supported 41,686 employees as of the end of August, according to the report. The CRA listed 322 marijuana retailers as approved for home delivery.
Michigan’s social equity program included 192 license holders controlling 307 active licenses as of August 31. Of the 307 licenses, 170 were associated with social equity participants who have marijuana-related convictions. The agency received three new social equity applications in August, found one applicant eligible and reported no applicants as ineligible during the month.
The report also provides a snapshot of enforcement activity. The CRA received 116 complaints in August, opened 72 investigations and closed 66, with an average investigation completion time of 55 days. Regulators issued 81 notices of noncompliance and reported 113 enforcement actions, although the enforcement-action figure combines medical and adult-use activity.
Among adult-use licensees, regulators issued 28 formal complaints against retailers, 21 against Class C growers, 11 against processors, three against secure transporters and one against a safety compliance facility. Retailers also received 12 consent orders, compared with three for Class C growers and two for processors.
Adult-use licensing generated $3.18 million for the CRA during August, including $2.57 million in renewal fees. Adult-use regulatory expenses totaled approximately $1.80 million, including $820,092 in employee wages, $642,577 in employee benefits and $332,618 for materials and equipment.
Michigan’s medical marijuana registry, meanwhile, had 50,975 qualifying patients and 2,916 primary caregivers as of August 31. Wayne County had the most registered patients at 9,243, followed by Oakland County with 7,188, Macomb County with 4,329, Kent County with 2,938 and Washtenaw County with 2,284.
The registry received 1,490 initial applications and 522 renewal applications during August. Of those, 1,352 initial applications and 491 renewals were issued. The state also reported 135 physicians providing written certifications for qualifying patients.
Chronic pain was the most commonly listed qualifying condition, appearing for 75.04% of registered patients, followed by severe and chronic pain at 34.24%, arthritis at 18.12% and post-traumatic stress disorder at 10.58%. Muscle spasms were listed for 6.67% of patients, while severe nausea accounted for 3.85% and cancer for 2.39%.
The August report covers sales, licensing, inventory, enforcement, social equity participation, employment and medical registry activity through August 31.
