The application should be completed and uploaded to ACA.
To submit your application, follow the link – Accela Online Citizen Portal
Applications can also be submitted in person at the address provided below. Please note, applicants that do not have a social security number will need to submit a paper application.
2407 N. Grand River Avenue
Lansing, MI 48906
The application process is divided into a two-step process. This two-step process allows applicants to begin the application process by completing Step One (Pre-qualification) before a location for the medical marijuana facility is established.
Step One – Pre-qualification
The first step is pre-qualification which includes a full background check of the applicant and all supplemental applicants. Before an applicant’s pre-qualification materials can be reviewed, the applicant must pay the non-refundable $6,000 application fee. The MRA will notify the applicant when and where fingerprints can be taken. Local law enforcement agencies will not collect fingerprints for the MRA and the MRA will not accept fingerprint reports completed by applicants before the applicants are instructed to have their fingerprints collected.
Step Two – State Operating License
The second step requires information specific to the physical location of the applicant’s facility. It is recommended that the applicant not submit their Step 2 application more than 60 days prior to the facility being ready for inspection. This helps to assure that the information provided regarding the facility is in final form and accurate.
Under Section 205 of the MMFLA, the Agency cannot issue a license to a facility intending to operate in a municipality unless the municipality in which the applicant’s proposed marihuana facility will operate has adopted an ordinance that authorizes that type of facility. An applicant’s physical location must be in a municipality with an ordinance compliant with Section 205 requirements. Any questions about municipal ordinances should be directed toward the appropriate municipal authority.
After the facility has received approval for the state operating license from MRA, the applicant must pay the regulatory assessment for each license the applicant is issued within ten business days of being approved.
Grower Class A regulatory assessments are capped at $10,000 by statute.
Grower B and C, Processor, Provisioning Center, and Secure Transporter regulatory assessments are dependent on the number of total licenses subject to assessment. The fee is set annually for the current fiscal year and is published by an advisory bulletin.
Safety Compliance Facilities do not have a regulatory assessment.
Step 1 (pre-qualification) must be achieved before an applicant can move forward with their Step 2. Step 2 (facility license application) will not be reviewed until the main applicant has received pre-qualification status.
It is recommended that the applicant not submit their Step 2 application more than 60 days prior to the facility being ready for inspection. This helps to assure that the information provided regarding the facility is in final form and accurate. When submitting the Step 2 application, be sure to use the checklist on the first page and submit all required documentation.
The applicant can expect communication to come from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) through the following methods:
- Accela Citizen Access (ACA), which is the citizen user portal. The email communication will direct the applicant to view their dashboard on ACA for more information.
- A response to an email from Outlook
- Telephone
- Mail
The initial costs of a license at the state level include the application fee and the regulatory assessment fee. Additional costs at the state level are authorized under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) and may be required.
Any municipality fee is not determined or collected by CRA. Applicants will need to find out this information from their local municipality.
Section 401(5) of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) requires the setting of application fee amounts for each category and class of license by rule.
- Application Fee: The application fee is non-refundable and offsets the cost for LARA, the Michigan State Police (MSP), and/or contract costs for investigative services for conducting the background investigation of those applying for licenses. The nonrefundable application fee, which must be submitted before an application will be processed, will be $3,000.
- Annual Regulatory Assessment: The regulatory assessment is due prior to the issuance of each license and may vary depending on the number of licenses anticipated to be issued. The regulatory assessment does not apply to safety compliance facilities. This assessment offsets operational costs and other statutory mandates including LARA’s costs to implement the act. It also offsets the cost of medical-marijuana-related services provided to LARA by the Michigan Attorney General’s office, MSP, and the Dept. of Treasury. By statute, the assessment must also provide $500,000 annually to LARA for licensing substance abuse disorder programs in addition to five percent of the other state departments’ costs to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse-related expenses. The regulatory assessment is set annually by bulletin and can be found on this page.
- Additional Costs: If required, the applicant may need to pay additional costs. The MMFLA authorizes the following:
- Late renewal fees as established by rule (Section 402(11))
- Actual costs of investigation and processing that exceed the application fee paid by an applicant (Section 401(5))
Per the Marijuana Sale or Transfer Rule Set a provisioning center may sell or transfer marijuana product to a visiting qualifying patient if all the following are met:
- The licensee verifies that the visiting qualifying patient has a valid unexpired medical marijuana registry card – or its equivalent – issued in another state, district, territory, commonwealth, or insular possession of the United States that allows the medical use of marijuana.
- The licensee confirms that the visiting qualifying patient presented his or her valid driver license or government-issued identification card that bears a photographic image of the visiting qualifying patient.
- The licensee determines, if completed, that any transfer or sale will not exceed the purchasing limit prescribed in the Marijuana Sale or Transfer Rule Set.
- Any marijuana product that is sold or transferred under this rule has been tested and is labelled and packaged for sale or transfer in accordance with the Marijuana Sale or Transfer Rule Set.
As used in this sub rule, “visiting qualifying patient” means that term as defined in Section 3 of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, 2008 IL 1, MCL 333.26423.
