Friday at 9 a.m., the City of Riverview will begin accepting licenses for businesses wanting to operate recreational marijuana businesses.

Detroit regulators issued retail licenses for adult-use marijuana four years after recreational cannabis sales began in Michigan.

Pontiac City Council will likely take a final vote on what recreational marijuana will look like in the city at the Jan. 10 meeting.

After years of back and forth and a court battle, the City of Detroit is finally issuing recreational marijuana licenses to businesses.

People seeking recreational marijuana business licenses in Detroit can begin applying next month.

Detroit voters approved recreational marijuana in the city two years ago, but only now has it been given the green light by the city.

After years of back-and-forth, court battles and intense debate, the Detroit City Council has finally approved the city’s recreational marijuana ordinance.

A new cannabis dispensary is opening in Center Line and the first 100 customers will win free pre-rolled joints for a year.

More than $42.2 million in marijuana tax revenue will be distributed among 163 municipalities and counties in Michigan.

Last summer, a judge put a halt to granting recreational marijuana licenses in the city of Detroit. Instead of waiting to go to trial, there’s a new ordinance on the table.

Michigan’s High Times Cannabis Cup will go virtual this year and organizers are expecting it to be the largest cannabis event in the state.

A district court judge ruled Thursday to halt the granting of recreational marijuana licenses in the city of Detroit over an ordinance that allegedly favors certain Detroit residents over other applicants.

Cannabis has become a multi-million dollar business in Michigan, but there is still a double standard when it comes to social equity in the industry. The Michigan company Pleasantrees is known for its cannabis products, but they’re also working to make the marijuana industry more equitable for everyone. “Social equity has basically become a term of art in the cannabis industry,” said Jerome Crawford with Pleasantrees. The Michigan company is hiring more minorities like Crawford, an attorney who now oversees legal operations and social equity for Pleasantrees. AdYou can learn more about Pleasantrees’ social equity plan on their website here.

The Greenhouse of Walled Lake is teaming up with UBaked Cannabis Company to offer free pre-rolled joints to people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine and can prove it. WALLED LAKE, Mich. – The Greenhouse of Walled Lake is teaming up with UBaked Cannabis Company to offer free pre-rolled joints to people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine and can prove it. The “pot for shots” COVID-19 vaccination promotion runs from Jan. 22 through Feb. 28. You need to bring in written proof that you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine and you’ll be given a free pre-rolled joint with no purchase necessary. Jerry Millen, Founder and owner of GreenhouseThe Greenhouse of Walled Lake is located at 103 East Walled Lake Drive in Walled Lake, Michigan.

It’s been nearly a year since recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan, yet recreational shops and other businesses have not been allowed in Detroit.

Important PointsLegislation includes robust social equity program to help build wealth amongst DetroitersAt least 50% of all new licenses to be issued to “Legacy Detroiters”All state approved adult use licenses to be made availableLegacy applicants to receive priority application review, discounts on application feesDETROIT – Today the Detroit City Council voted to unanimously approve an adult-use recreational marijuana ordinance also known as Chapter 20 of the 2019 Detroit City Code, which allows adult-use marijuana licensing in Detroit. Passage of this ordinance by the full body of the Detroit City Council allows licensing for the following state approved categories: adult-use retailer establishment, grower, processor, safety compliance facility, temporary marihuana event, microbusiness, designated consumption lounge and secure transporter. The ordinance allows current medical marijuana licensees an opportunity at obtaining adult use licenses but works steadfastly to create an avenue of participation for residents of the city where this new industry will be located. The City of Detroit Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department will begin accepting Detroit Legacy applications for certification in January 2021 and the Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department will follow by accepting applications for adult-use licensing starting April 1, 2021. For more information about the adult-use marijuana ordinance or the social equity program component, reach out to councilmembertate@detroitmi.gov or click here.

DETROIT – Councilman James Tate announced a proposed amendment to the Detroit City Code to allow adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in Detroit. The ordinance would give significant preference to Detroit residents in terms of the number of licenses issued, discounts on land and other incentives, officials said. Detroit Legacy applicants will get a minimum of 50 percent of all newly created business licenses issued in the city, officials said. No license will be issued to any recreational business if it reduces the number of licenses issued to Detroit Legacy applicants below 50 percent. There will be a six-week exclusive early licensing period for Detroit Legacy applicants.

DETROIT – Mayor Mike Duggan and City Council member James Tate are expected to unveil a proposal Monday that would allow marijuana licenses in Detroit. Residents of Detroit were surprised to hear that Duggan could soon be announcing an amendment to the city’s code that could possibly allow adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in the city. But freeing up marijuana sales isn’t the only goal of the legislation -- it also includes a social equity program focused on inclusion and opportunity. Under the new plan, 10 types of licenses are expected to be available to people operating in the city. Legacy applicants to receive first priority with discounts on application fees and city landDetails are expected to be revealed during a Monday afternoon press conference.

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – The city of Highland Park has decided to go all in on legal marijuana -- but some people are wondering if the move is too much. Concerned residents have contacted Local 4, questioning why a city that’s less that three square miles is home to 36 marijuana business licenses. On Hamilton Avenue -- where most people see blight -- the Highland Park City Council sees an opportunity for prosperity. The city council recently approved an ordinance that allows Highland park to participate in recreational and medical marijuana businesses. City council president Carlton Clyburn says that the 36 marijuana licenses don’t necessarily mean that 36 marijuana businesses will suddenly flood the town.

The bipartisan Clean Slate Package will automatically expunge some marijuana convictions, minor crimes and nonviolent felonies. Gilchrist joined Whitmer when she signed the Clean Slate package. “We made an estimate that it’s going to cost about $23-25 million to implement the Clean Slate automated expungement system," Gilchrist said. Whitmer on Monday alongside a number of House bills designed to automate the criminal record expungement process and expand eligibility criteria. More: New ‘Clean Slate’ laws to automate criminal record expungement process, expand eligibility criteria in Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Cloud Cannabis wants customers to “live higher.”Michigan-based cannabis brand will open its Ann Arbor dispensary at 1760 Plymouth Rd on Monday, Oct. 19Co-founded by Chief Development Officer John McLeod, a former Detroit Police Department officer who credits cannabis with helping him quit opiates, the company approaches the cannabis industry with a patients-over-profit mantra. The Ann Arbor location will sell cannabis for both medical and recreational use through curbside services and aims to educate customers with individualized recommendations. (Cloud Cannabis)McLeod said the company wanted to open up an Ann Arbor dispensary due to the city’s well-known forward and open approach with cannabis. The Ann Arbor location will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. To give back to the surrounding community, the cannabis brand is partnering with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County.

Some Michigan residents who have been convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana offense are now eligible to have that conviction set aside. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bills into law on Monday expanding eligibility requirements for criminal record expungement -- including for those with misdemeanor marijuana convictions. Marijuana offenses are eligible for expungement if they would not be considered illegal if committed after December 6, 2018, when recreational marijuana use became legal for adults in the state of Michigan. In 2018, Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana by an 11-point margin. More: New ‘Clean Slate’ laws to automate criminal record expungement process, expand eligibility criteria in Michigan

DETROIT – Several marijuana vape cartridges that were sold in Detroit have been recalled after failing safety compliance testing for Vitamin E Acetate. The cartridges were manufactured before the Emergency Rules for marijuana products intended for inhalation were filed on Nov. 22, 2019. Affected vape cartridges will have a label that indicates the license number of the marijuana facility that sold the marijuana product. The recall affects marijuana products sold from Plan B Wellness on 8 Mile Road in Detroit. Patients and caregivers are requested to report any adverse product reactions to the MRA via email: MRA-Enforcement@michigan.gov or via phone: 517-284-8599.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. Michigan may have said YES to recreational marijuana, but cities across Metro Detroit have been struggling with where and how much to allow. After one year of trying to hash it out, the city Royal Oak is discussing the situation. There has been a lot of opposition to putting marijuana businesses along the Woodward Corridor. Royal Oak City Commission cast a series of ordinances that would allow businesses along Woodward. The police chief did say that he doesnt believe marijuana businesses along Woodward would put a drain on his resources.

YPSILANTI, Mich. The first recreational marijuana dispensary has opened in Ypsilanti. Oz Cannabis, just outside of Depot Town in downtown Ypsilanti, is the first to receive both city and state approval as a marijuana retailer selling medical and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. Oz Cannabis founder, Nemer Haddad, a lifelong Detroit-area entrepreneur, says hes proud of the companys Ypsilanti location. In 2018, Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana by an 11-point margin. Related: Michigan voted to legalize marijuana in 2018, but many communities have opted out of salesMichigan regulators starting accepting license applications in late 2019 and are slowly working to activate them, in accordance with marijuana laws in the state.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. On Monday, Ann Arbors latest cannabis provisioning center, Liberty Ann Arbor, will be holding its grand opening. The business will also be launching its Kick COVID to the Curb program, which is intended to help local restaurants around the provisioning center. Managed by Holistic Industries, the company intends to hold Liberty Cannabis Cares town halls and educational programs as well as offer a rewards program. To keep customers safe, Liberty Ann Arbor will limit in-store customers to four or five at a time and require masks and social distancing. Liberty Ann Arbor will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. Additional fees are listed in the table below:State License Type Initial License Fee Class A Marijuana Grower $4,000 Class B Marijuana Grower $8,000 Class C Marijuana Grower $40,000 Excess Marijuana Grower $40,000 Marijuana Microbusiness $8,000 Marijuana Processor $40,000 Marijuana Retailer $25,000 Marijuana Secure Transporter $25,000 Marijuana Safety Compliance Facility $25,000 Marijuana Event Organizer $1,000 Temporary Marijuana Event See Rule 63 Designated Consumption Establishment $1,000For temporary marijuana events each marijuana event organizer is expected to pay an initial licensure fee of $500 for each day of the scheduled event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales:

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. If marijuana is for sale at the event they are expected to pay a $500 fee for each licensee authorized to sell product at the event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales: