Southwest Michigan hits high point in Marijuana tax revenue
Berrien County gets $1,2 million in 2023 from eligible licenses.
Southwest Michigan municipalities and counties where marijuana was sold in 2023 received more than $4.6 million in marijuana tax revenue.
That’s up from the $3.5 million they received the previous year.
According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, more than $87 million went to 269 municipalities and counties throughout the state earlier this month. That is up from last year, when the treasury department distributed more than $59.5 million among 224 municipalities and counties.
Part of the rise in revenue in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties was due to an increase in the amount of money municipalities and counties received for every eligible licensed retail store and microbusiness.
In 2022, the government entities received $51,841 for each eligible license. In 2023, that increased to $59,086 for each eligible license.
Another reason is because of an increase in the number of eligible licensed businesses – from 34 in 2022 to 39 in 2023.
Based on sales in 2023, Berrien County received $1.2 million for its 19 licenses, which is four more than the 15 licenses the county had in 2022.
The number of eligible licensed marijuana businesses in Cass County increased from six to seven, netting the county $413,604.
Van Buren County received $768,122 for its 13 eligible licenses, which is the same number of licenses the county had in 2022.
Additionally, each municipality received $59,086 per eligible license in 2023.
Buchanan and Niles, with six licenses each, received $354,518.
Benton Harbor received $236,345 for its four licenses.
Paw Paw Township got $177,258 for its three licenses.
Receiving $118,172 for having two licensed marijuana businesses were Watervliet, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg, Lawrence, Bangor and Decatur.
Municipalities that got $59,086 for having one licensed business each were Three Oaks, Dowagiac, Marcellus Township, Marcellus, Porter Township, Almena Township, Breedsville and Hartford.
The money was distributed as part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.
The department of treasury reported that 99 cities, 30 villages, 69 township and 71 counties received payments from the Marihuana Regulation Fund.
In addition, $101.6 million was sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $101.6 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund.
“The tax funding for municipalities and counties that comes from the marijuana excise tax is a very important benefit of the legal cannabis industry in Michigan,” Cannabis Regulatory Agency Executive Director Brian Hanna said in a news release. “The CRA is committed to doing our part in supporting our licensees so that they can continue to grow the local economy throughout the state with good-paying jobs and increased revenues for local government budgets.”
