3 ways cannabis impacts our community
There are many stereotypes that still exist today when society refers to cannabis and those who consume. With over 100 years of cannabis prohibition, we’ve come a long way on working towards removing the stigma around cannabis use. A full history of cannabis prohibition in the United State is explained in a Leafly article here.
As a local provider, our goal is to serve our community with high-quality cannabis products, but more importantly, we’ve made it our mission to continue to educate and break down the long standing misconceptions about the consumption of the cannabis plant.
In this article, we detail 3 ways that cannabis impacts the community we live, work and play in.
1. Supports municipalities
Michigan voters approved the legalization of the recreational use of Marihuana for adults 21 years of age and older. The resulting legislation known as the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) imposes an excise tax of 10% on retail Marihuana sales in addition to a 6% sales tax. Both taxes are administered by the Department of Treasury. (via Michigan.gov)
What is an excise tax? An excise tax is a tax on the production, sale or consumption of a commodity in a country. Excise tax revenue is transferred to a fund and allocated for specific purposes.
On March 24, 2022, the Michigan Department of Treasury announced that more than $42.2 million would be distributed among 163 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. That’s 62 cities, 15 villages, 33 townships and 53 counties in Michigan receiving payments from the Marihuana Regulation fund. For the state of Michigan’s 2021 fiscal year, that means each eligible municipality and county received more than $56,400 for every licensed retail store and microbusiness located within its jurisdiction.
For the 2021 fiscal year, more than $111 million was collected from the 10% adult-use marijuana excise tax. In total, there was $172 million available for distribution form the fund.
Aside from the more than $42.2 million in disbursements to municipalities and counties, $49.3 million was sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $49.3 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund. (via Michigan.gov)
At The Fire Station, both Michigan’s 6% sales tax and Michigan’s 10% excise tax is imposed on all products containing cannabis, including flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, tinctures, topicals and CBD. Any non-cannabis containing products, including accessories and apparel, impose only the 6% Michigan sales. tax.
Negaunee township installed 50 solar panels on the roof of the gymnasium at no cost to taxpayers. The project was covered by using the Marijuana Excise Tax money that the township received in 2021 from the state. The $56,400 covered the project costs leaving the project fully funded. (via Negaunee Township newsletter, written by Gary Wommer)
2. Creates jobs
Established in Upper Michigan in October of 2019, The Fire Station was the second medical marijuana facility to open in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) The Fire Station’s Negaunee location became the first U.P. recreational facility in November 2019, and was approved for delivery services in March 2020.
The Fire Station employs retail-specific roles such as general managers, assistant managers, budtenders, packers, receptionists and security. In addition, TFS also has a number of administrative roles, including executive leadership, compliance and licensing, finance and accounting, human resources, information technology, marketing and communications, and purchasing and inventory.
As company sales have increased over time, TFS has expanded with more employment opportunities. In 2019, The Fire Station employed seven full-time staff. That number grew to 60 total employees in 2020, and up to 120 in 2021. As of September 2022, TFS employs 172, with 5 new hires set to complete the Ishpeming location staffing plan.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this many jobs in our community. There are exciting challenges ahead of TFS, new locations, new faces, and opportunities. You can stay up to date with current available positions at The Fire Station here.”
– Carlee Wasik Hammack, Director of Human Resources
According to a May 2022 article by MI Tax CPA: “Michigan is the third-largest cannabis job market in the United States, trailing shortly behind Colorado and California. […] As of January 2022, there were a total of 31,152 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis in Michigan. In 2021, there were 13,074 new cannabis jobs created. This amounts to a 72% annual growth in cannabis jobs for the Great Lake State, and the growth is expected to continue.”
3. Stimulates business growth
The Fire Station conducts business with many different local and non-local, third-party suppliers of goods, materials and services. The relationship built between TFS and its suppliers is mutually beneficial and is a critical component on how efficiently and effectively TFS does business.
Third-party vendors have a profound impact on key components of business at TFS, including logistics, transaction processing, inventory management, quality and much more.
The Fire Station prioritizes a Community Outreach Plan which outlines the company’s long-term commitment to giving back and supporting local charities and organizations through volunteering, donations and sponsorships. TFS supports a broad range of local causes, such as cancer care, U.P. animal shelters and much more. Two of The Fire Station’s core values are de-stigmatization and community, both of which are demonstrated in community outreach efforts.
“The Fire Station is very much involved in our local communities, so much so they created my full-time job to support our outreach initiatives! As someone who is originally from the Upper Peninsula, it is exciting to see and be a part of all of the good that TFS puts back into our community.”
– Lauren Rotundo, Community Outreach Coordinator
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