NEW BUFFALO, Mich. (WSBT) — It seems a lot of Michiganders love marijuana no matter which part of the state they call home.
“Rich people, poor people, white people, Black people, inner-city, country boys. Everybody likes it,” said Steve Ezell of Interlochen Alternative Health.
Ezell told WSBT’s sister station Up North Live he knows one thing’s for sure. Marijuana is here to stay. His marijuana store in Interlochen is one of close to 800 retailers currently operating in Michigan, collectively bringing in $269 million dollars in excise tax revenue last year. The state treasury department said by comparison $186 million was collected in 2022—a 44.2 percent growth in one year.
An analysis by Lending Tree released this month ranked Michigan fourth nationally out of states where cannabis is legal for having the biggest change in tax revenue. Missouri, New York and Louisiana rounded out the top three.
“Just the amount of money that is pouring into state governments as a result of that is pretty eye opening,” said Matt Schulz with Lending Tree.
Michigan’s marijuana tax revenue is split into thirds between K-through-12 education, transportation and the rest being paid out to cities and towns through a flat fee for every licensed retail store or
