Gov. Whitmer Speeds Up Michigan's Lethargic General Permit Process: Game-Changer For Cannabis Retailers Mired In Red Tape?

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday that it’s time to speed things up and make Michigan's general permitting process clearer, faster and more efficient. To that end, her office will establish recommended deadlines to process applications and require that application fees be waived or refunded if there are delays.

The goal, she said, is efficient permitting so more projects of all kinds that require permits, including housing, community revitalization, cannabis, manufacturing, clean energy, water protection will get done on time and at cost.

"Those applying for a permit with the state must know how long the process will take and that when the state commits to a deadline, it will meet it," she wrote in an executive directive, which exempts certain types of permitting or licensing, reported Crains Detroit.

Cannabis Licensing Lags, Especially In Detroit

While cannabis sales in Michigan rose 6% in June from May, reaching a record $260.8 million, it’s been an upward battle to get a license to operate in the potentially largest cannabis market in the state: Detroit. Recreational cannabis sales only kicked off in Jan. 2023 in Detroit after years of legal wrangling and numerous setbacks. 

Detroit’s cannabis industry is now trying to catch up to the rest of the state, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2018. 

This week, the city began accepting applications for a second round of business licenses, with half reserved for equity applicants from communities disproportionately affected by marijuana prohibition.

Perhaps, Gov. Whitmer’s new approach to compel state agencies to get the lead out will help. Under the new system, each state department or agency that issues permits has 90 days to compile a report informing the governor's office about each permit, noted Crains. 

Full Refunds For Slow Processing

Whitmer's office will set recommended times for the efficient processing of applications for each permit type. Application fees will be fully waived or refunded "to the extent permitted by law," according to the directive.

"This will boost accountability from the state and boost confidence for individuals and organizations seeking a permit with the state," Whitmer wrote.

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