A 2021 report published by Leafly spotlights Michigan’s growing reputation as one of the nation’s leading avenues for legal cannabis.

As per the research, Michigan ranks third in the United States for total cannabis employment. In fact, the state trails closely behind two of the country’s largest markets: California and Colorado.

The analysis by cannabis education website Leafly shows that the number of full-time jobs in the state’s new cannabis industry increased 72% last year with a whopping $1.79 billion in legal sales.

On top of that, Leafly’s 2021 cannabis report revealed that the number of cannabis-focused jobs in Michigan is only overshadowed by restaurant waitstaff — a sector that boasts 55,920 employees statewide.

Leafly’s 2021 cannabis report: Michigan has 31,152 industry workers

At the time of publication, there were approximately 31,152 cannabis employees in Michigan. This figure suggests that the fast-growing legal cannabis industry is stimulating more worker demand than various other mainstream industries.

For example, the report noted that the number of electricians in Michigan stood at just 20,450, law enforcement officers at 16,220, attorneys at 13,790 and firefighters at 6,570.

The report also found that customers forked out $25 billion on cannabis in 2021, which is significantly more than the $16 billion spent on milk during the same year. 

Michigan’s colossal cannabis industry growth has been attributed to the hundreds of dispensaries that have opened their doors across the state since adult-use sales first started in 2019. 

Nonetheless, a mere 160 of the state’s 1,700 cities and townships have chosen to “opt-in” and permit adult-use cannabis businesses.

Leafly’s cannabis report: Cannabis prices are plummeting across Michigan

Although Michigan is ranking highly among other U.S. states in terms of market dominance and job creation, the industry’s success is dependent on sustained cannabis prices. 

Unfortunately, new data indicates that the state’s cannabis prices hit rock bottom in January. Prices are sinking as supply swells and, consequently, consumers are snapping up discounted bud without hesitation.

While the news may be well received by customers and retailers alike, small-scale cannabis cultivators are growing increasingly concerned. 

Based on state records, there is 55 times more cannabis available in Michigan’s legal market and consumer-buying rates are 16 times higher than they were when the market launched two years ago.

The price for one ounce, which works out at approximately 28 grams, reduced by 70 percent from $516 in December 2019 to just $152 in January. 

On average, it costs less than $5 to buy a gram of weed in Michigan. This works out at less than half the national standard.