Will Indiana remain a big driver of Michigan cannabis?

The Michigan Cannabis Trail’s Andrew McFarlane talked with wrtv.com’s Vic Ryckaert about Indiana’s continued resistance to legal cannabis and how that impacts Michigan:

As a panel of Indiana lawmakers prepares to study the economic, workforce and other impact the state could expect to see if it were to legalize marijuana, folks in our neighboring states already have the answer.

“You know, Indiana is a huge driver. I mean, I thank Indiana and Ohio every day for what they’ve done for the Michigan cannabis business,” said Andrew McFarlane, founder and CEO of the Michigan Cannabis Trail.

Numbers are telling. Michigan raked in $325 million in tax revenue from nearly $1.9 billion in marijuana sales in 2022, according to the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

Michigan doesn’t track out-of-state purchases, but one dispensary owner tells WRTV that out-of-state visitors make up about half of her shop’s sales.

“We get a lot of people from everywhere in our store,” said Katie Lynch Lindgren, co-owner and brand director for Green Stem in Niles, Mich.

…”If I were an Indiana resident, I would tell Indiana politicians: ‘Hey, you guys are leaving a huge amount of money on the table,'” McFarlane said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: McFarlane definitely could have continued “…but I’m not, so I will just tell them thank you for helping to support our schools & roads!”

Lots more at WRTV, and for all you Indiana, Ohio & Wisconsin neighbors, Michigan has all kinds of great cannabis events you can enjoy & 420-friendly lodging & camping too!