Marijuana Advocate Fights New Michigan Cannabis Tax

Michigan Tax Hike on Cannabis Sparks Backlash from Industry Leaders

A new Michigan tax on recreational cannabis is facing fierce criticism from one of the state's leading legalization advocates. Jamie Lowell, co-author of Michigan's original recreational cannabis initiative, is blasting the state's decision to impose a steep Michigan tax on marijuana sales to help fund road projects.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration recently proposed a wholesale Michigan tax on cannabis as part of the new state budget, which the Legislature passed last week. The plan raises the total Michigan tax on cannabis sales to 24%, a move that has angered growers, retailers, and advocates across the industry.

Industry Leaders Sound the Alarm

Lowell, a longtime cannabis entrepreneur and activist, says the new Michigan tax will devastate small businesses already struggling to survive in a competitive and oversaturated market. "This Michigan tax increase could push many legal operators out of business," Lowell warned, noting that the state's legal cannabis market is still recovering from price drops and overproduction.

He also questioned the legality of the move, arguing that voters never approved such a steep Michigan tax when they passed the state's recreational cannabis law in 2018. "The intent of the original ballot initiative was to create a fair and sustainable system," Lowell said. "This new Michigan tax violates that intent and hurts the very people who built this industry."

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