Michigan’s First-Day Recreational Cannabis Sales are Strong

It’s no surprise that Michigan’s first-day recreational cannabis sales were strong this past Sunday, Dec. 1, marking the inauguration of the state’s adult-use market. Starting at 10 a.m., a few lucky customers got a chance to purchase from a legal, albeit limited, inventory of cannabis flower and cannabis-infused products.

Michigan voters passed Proposal 1 back in November 2018, making Michigan the tenth state in the nation to legalize recreational pot. Anyone over the age of 21 can buy, possess, and use cannabis and grow up to 12 plants for personal use. Just a year over legalization and Michigan residents are flocking to retailers in droves.

$221,000 in Total Sales

On the very first day of Michigan’s recreational marijuana market, customers spent a total of $221,000, according to data from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Medical dispensaries licensed to sell adult-use pot could only sell up to 50 percent of their medical cannabis inventory that had been sitting on the shelves for at least 30 days.

Michigan’s total first-day sales were a success for all retailers. Andrew Brisbo, director of the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency said, “I saw the coverage of the lines and I think that was what we expected. The demand is already there and we’re inching toward the supply that will meet that demand.”

Crowds are Fired Up

On the big opening morning, three recreational pot shops in Ann Arbor, Michigan served an unprecedented crowd of customers. Hundreds of people lined up at Exclusive Brands, Arbor Wellness, and Greenstone Provisions dispensaries. A fourth shop, Michigan Supply and Provisions in Morenci, wasn’t able to open until about 7 p.m when they stocked their store.

According to the latest numbers from Detroit Free Press, more than 2,220 people spent about $221,000, which translates to roughly $100.45 per person. Here’s a quick breakdown of how many customers visited each shop:

• Exclusive Brands sold to more than 900 customers. 200 people couldn’t get their products by the store’s closing time, 9 p.m, but were given discounts and a raffle ticket for a chance to win front-row seats to a Detroit Pistons basketball game.
• Greenstone Provisions sold to over 300 people. They ran out of cannabis flower by 6 p.m., but still had concentrates left.
• Arbor Wellness sold to more than 750 customers.
• Michigan Supply and Provisions in Morenci sold to over 200 customers during their 2-hour sales period from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Omar Hishmeh, owner of Exclusive Brands, told the Detroit Free Press, “[Customers] have a golden ticket to come back. There was a lot of adrenaline for the whole team. We did our best to prepare, but we didn’t think there would be a consistent line all day between 400 and 500 people.”

Michigan Supply manager Coleman LaBarr said, “We’re offering a limited menu. We have 5 strains and we’re limiting sales to a quarter ounce per customer. We are the No. 1 out-of-state destination. I could throw a football to Ohio from where I sit.”

New Shops Coming Soon

Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency has approved six marijuana retailers to sell recreational pot, including Lit Provisioning Centers and Skymint, who plan to open in the near future. Michigan lawmakers have issued 18 licenses for businesses like growers and processors and expect to license more in January and throughout next year.

Here’s a breakdown of Michigan’s first licensees:

• Retailer: Greenstone
• Retailer: Arbor Wellness
• Retailer: Exclusive Provisioning Centers
• Processor: Arbor Kitchen LLC
• Processor: Exclusive Brands LLC
• Event Organizer: Real Leaf Solutions
• Safety Compliance: Precision Safety Innovation Laboratories, LLC
• Class C Grower: Exclusive Brands LLC
• Retailer: Lit Provisioning Centers/Lume Cannabis Co
• Retailer: Green Peak Innovations/Skymint
• Retailer: Michigan Supply and Provisions
• Secure Transporter: Greenline Express
• Processor: Green Peak Innovations
• Class C Grower (5 licenses): Green Peak Innovations

Some shops approved to sell adult-use cannabis products are still waiting for their cities to allow cannabis sales. For example, Ferndale is expected to allow cannabis pot shops to open in several months. Michigan residents can expect shorter lines and a more diverse and robust inventory in the coming months.

Michigan’s new recreational market sales show the bursting demand for all types of cannabis products and more shops. As the state issues more licenses to growers, processors, event organizers, transporters, labs, and more, Michigan residents can expect an upsurge in job opportunities in the cannabis industry.

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