Michigan awards first marijuana licenses, paving way for December 1 sales

The state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency delivered the first five recreational marijuana licenses Tuesday, paving the way for sales of legal weed to anyone 21 or older.

Licenses went to Exclusive Brands in Ann Arbor, which has a grow operation, a processing facility and a medical marijuana dispensary. Another went to PSI Labs, a marijuana testing lab in Ann Arbor and the fifth went to Real Leaf Solutions, an event organizer from Kalkaska.

Exclusive Brands owner Omar Hishmeh said he’ll be ready for the long lines expected on Dec. 1, the first day the state will allow sales of recreational marijuana. .

“It feels great to be the first to get a license,” he said. “Our waiting list is already a few pages … People can expect a long line.”

The state expects to have a dozen or so licenses issued by Dec. 1, but availability of product will be sparse at first. Marijuana growers and processors can transfer 50% of their inventory from the medical to the recreational side of the business beginning on Dec. 1. Medical dispensaries can transfer 50% of their inventory to the recreational side, but only products that have been on their shelves for at least 30 days. [Read more at Detroit Free Press]