Detroit experienced a historic moment when Nuggets Cannabis Co. became the first legacy recreational marijuana business to open as part of the city's social equity program. The shop is run by the longtime Detroiters Louis Radden and his aunt Camille Hicks.
Detroit Legacy: In order to qualify as a Detroit Legacy licensee, at least 51% of the company's ownership must have been certified as long-term Detroit residents who have lived in the city for at least 15 out of the last 30 years.
Louis Radden, who initially entered the space as a medical marijuana provider, is among the first recreational marijuana facilities in Detroit, according to BlackCannabisMagazine.com. As an equity cannabis company, they are committed to providing decent jobs with reasonable benefits for the community and 100% of its employees will be Detroit residents.
After a series of starts, stops and lawsuits, Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana in 2018, but it wasn't until 2022 that Detroit approved a functioning cannabis ordinance. In December 2022, Detroit enjoyed a significant victory when Judge Friedman ruled against a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the city from moving forward with its current recreational program. Half of the limited licenses for equity applicants were set aside by the revised ordinance.
After a two-month scoring process and review by the Office of Marijuana Ventures and Entrepreneurship, Detroit also awarded licenses for 13 non-equity applicants.
The outlet stated that Detroit has issued 34 adult-use marijuana retail licenses, making it a leader in addressing the generational loss experienced by communities of color.
Deputy mayor Todd Bettison stressed that social equity includes taking action to combat the years of racially biased cannabis criminalization faced by many Detroit residents.
The grand opening of Nuggets Cannabis is a significant milestone for Detroit, setting the stage for a more equitable future for the recreational marijuana industry, according to BlackCannabisMagazine, a historic event that reflects the city's commitment to building generational wealth and addressing the negative impact of cannabis prohibition on communities of color.