Detroit Council OKs adult-use marijuana ordinance; initial licensing to begin 4/20

Join us for MJBizCon, happening Dec. 2-5, 2025, in Las Vegas. Get on the pre-registration list now to receive early bird ticket pricing. Secure your spot today!


The Detroit City Council finally signed off on a long-awaited local ordinance to kick-start the municipality’s adult-use marijuana industry.

The business licensing process is scheduled to commence on April 20, the unofficial marijuana holiday.

According to the Detroit Free Press, there will be no caps on licenses for cultivators and processors, and businesses seeking those licenses will be allowed to start submitting applications on 4/20.

However, a maximum of 100 retail licenses will be issued during an application window that might not begin for an additional 100 days, the Detroit Metro Times reported.

Also, half of the retail permits will be reserved for social equity applicants.

Applications for consumption lounges also won’t be accepted immediately, and it’s unclear when that window might open, though it’s expected to be within 100 days of April 20, the Free Press reported.

Subscribe to the MJBiz Factbook  

Exclusive industry data and analysis to help you make informed business decisions and avoid costly missteps. All the facts, none of the hype. 

What you will get: 

  • Monthly and quarterly updates, with new data & insights
  • Financial forecasts + capital investment trends
  • State-by-state guide to regulations, taxes & market opportunities
  • Annual survey of cannabis businesses
  • Consumer insights
  • And more!

Though Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana in 2018 and sales began in 2019, the ballot initiative gave localities the right to opt out of the industry.

Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, has been slow to pass an implementation bill to launch its new industry after a federal court ruling that the municipality’s initial law was “likely unconstitutional” because it favored local residents.