Michigan Treasury Distributes First Adult-Use Marijuana Payments to Municipalities, Counties

More than 100 municipalities and counties are getting a share of nearly $10 million as part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. Thirty-eight cities, seven villages, 21 townships and 38 counties began receiving payments from the Marijuana Regulation Fund for every licensed retail store and microbusiness within its jurisdiction.

Those payments include $420,019.80 for Bay County, which is second only to the Ann Arbor area in Washtenaw County for the number of marijuana businesses. Bay County’s Bangor Township will receive $280,013.20.

“The revenue generated from marijuana taxes and fees is important to our local governments,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “In this extraordinary time, our staff is working to get those payments to impacted municipalities and counties. Every dollar helps right now.”

The state collected more than $31 million from the 10 percent adult-use marijuana excise tax. Combined with fees, there was a total of $45.7 million available for distribution. Besides the $10 million for municipalities and counties, around $11.6 million will be sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $11.6 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund. In all, more than $341 million in adult-use marijuana sales was reported for fiscal year 2020.

“The team at the Marijuana Regulatory Agency did a tremendous job getting the adult-use licensing program established and operating efficiently,” said MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo. “Infusing over $28,000 per retailer and microbusiness into local government budgets across the state is very impactful and shows how strong and successful the industry is becoming.”

For more information about adult-use marijuana tax distributions – including a breakdown of how much municipalities and counties received – go to www.Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing. To learn more about Michigan’s adult-use marijuana industry, go to www.Michigan.gov/MRA.