Last updated 2 November 2026

Retail is open at city level: a marijuana retailer needs a city or township that allows it, plus any municipal license the city requires, and then a state license from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. Adult-use and medical. The Cannabis Regulatory Agency licenses adult-use marijuana businesses under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, and separately licenses medical marijuana facilities.^{4, 11, 1, 2}

License types and caps

Retail: marijuana retailer. Other license types: safety compliance facility (testing), secure transporter, processor, microbusiness, and grower in three classes: Class A (up to 100 plants), Class B (up to 500) and Class C (up to 2,000). A local municipality may cap the number of businesses or ban them.^{3, 4}

Application window

Retail depends on the city or township first: a municipality may ban or cap marijuana businesses and may require its own municipal license. State applications, including for retailers, are filed with the Agency online in two steps, prequalification and then the establishment license. Upon receipt of a complete application and application fee, the Agency sends a copy to the municipality and must issue the license or a rejection within 90 days. Where a municipality caps the number of businesses, the municipality picks among competing applicants.^{4, 3, 1, 10, 11}

Local opt-out

Yes. A municipality may ban marijuana businesses or cap their number, and residents can petition to put a ban or cap to local voters. Municipalities may also charge up to $5,000 a year, but may not block transport through their area. Businesses may not be in residential-only zones or within 1,000 feet of a school unless the municipality shortens that distance.^{4, 3}

Ownership and social equity, taxes, delivery and testing, upcoming changes and the numbered sources are in the Michigan rules panels on this page.