Michigan’s streets are literally paved with cannabis taxes—but in another world, that cash could buy plenty of unnecessary things.
MICHIGAN—Michigan cities and counties that decided to allow recreational marijuana sales within their borders last year are now poised to reap the rewards for letting the good times roll.
All told, more than $1.8 billion in Michigan marijuana sales last year generated $198.4 million in tax revenue for the state. Under state law, more than $59.5 million will be distributed directly to local municipalities and counties that gave the greenlight to recreational weed sales.
The rest of the tax revenue—about $140 million—will be split between the state’s School Aid Fund for K-12 education and the Michigan Transportation Fund for infrastructure repairs.
(Yes—that means the streets in Michigan are literally paved with cannabis tax revenue.)
To put it into perspective, here’s a list of things that Michigan could—but definitely won’t—buy with the $198.4 million instead:
1. Checks for about $20 for every Michigan resident
2. More than 155,000 lbs. of marijuana—based on the average ounce going for about $80
3. About 35.7 million Hot-N-Ready Pizzas from Little Caesars
4. Nearly 167 million bottles of Faygo—including the bottle deposit
5. About 4 million all-day lift tickets at Nub’s Nob
6. The salary of every lawmaker in the state Senate—for the next 72 years
7. Admission for more than 14 million adults to the Detroit Institute of Arts
8. About 44 million containers of Stroh’s ice cream—preferably Blue Moon
9. A fleet of more than 3,500 Ford F-150 Lightning pickup trucks
10. About 270 million King Olive Burgers from Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shop in Lansing
