Michigan pot shops sold $10 million worth of marijuana in first 6 weeks of legal weed

Six weeks into the recreational marijuana business in Michigan, sales have exceeded $10 million.

The high water mark of $10,090,446 in sales also means that $1,675,014 in revenues from a 10% excise tax and 6% sales tax flowed into state coffers.

Michigan marijuana enthusiasts could start buying legal weed on Dec. 1, roughly 13 months after voters approved a ballot proposal that legalized marijuana use and possession for anyone who is at least 21. The proposal, which passed 56%-44%, also allows for people to grow up to 12 plants in their home for personal use.

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It also tasked the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency with coming up with rules for the industry, which is expected to reach nearly $1 billion in sales when the market is fully grown.

Right now, the sales are happening at 16 marijuana retail shops that have gotten state licenses and have been able to open. There are 35 shops that have been licensed by the state, but many are waiting to open until they have enough marijuana products to meet the demand.

There are three shops in metro Detroit — two in River Rouge and one in Walled Lake — that have been licensed by the state, but none have opened yet for recreational sales.

More: Where to buy recreational marijuana in Michigan

More: Metro Detroit marijuana customers still waiting for nearby dispensaries

There are two reasons for the lack of widespread availability of pot in the market place: a persistent shortage of product that has forced some of the open retail outlets to limit the amount of marijuana a customer can buy and communities that are either not allowing marijuana businesses in their towns or still developing the rules that will govern legal weed businesses.

Detroit, for example, has at least 40 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the city for people with medical marijuana cards. But the City Council has put a moratorium on recreational sales until at least Jan. 31 while it crafts a recreational marijuana ordinance for the city.

Metro Detroit cities that have or are expected to approve recreational businesses in their town are Inkster, Detroit, Westland, Pontiac, Warren, Hazel Park and Ferndale.