Detroit City Council adopted a resolution Tuesday that sets the stage for banning advertisements for marijuana, tobacco and nicotine products where children are more likely to see them.
Council Members Scott Benson and Angela Whitfield-Calloway have been pushing for stricter regulation of marijuana billboards in response to a crisis of kids getting high and vaping. Benson said it’s “incumbent on us to protect the youth” as marijuana becomes cheaper and easier to access than ever.
Benson said the ordinance balances free speech rights with the city’s public health obligations. Detroit can regulate commercial speech without violating the First Amendment in limited cases.
The council first needed to pass a resolution affirming it has a “compelling interest” to protect children, therefore allowing the city to set restrictions on ads where children are likely to live, play, congregate and attend school.
The council plans to take up an ordinance banning advertising signs within 1,000 feet of child care centers, schools, parks, libraries, recreation centers, juvenile detention facilities and similar places.
Christina Floyd, deputy director of the city’s Health Department, said marijuana and vaping usage is higher near advertisements.
Detroit’s 2025 budget anticipates receiving marijuana tax revenue will grow from $1.9 million to $3.7 million. The revenue is expected to increase annually as the city adds more licensed marijuana businesses and statewide sales grow.
The funding is used to provide $1 million per year to Homegrown Detroit social equity initiatives and programming. The remaining $2.5 million goes into the General Fund for citywide services.
Two percent of the funding – 40,000 total – goes toward a youth substance abuse prevention program called Too Good for Drugs. The six-week program would take place in four Detroit public schools and serve 500 to 1,000 kids.
The city’s health department is in negotiations to roll out the program this fall. It would take a change in city ordinances to provide a larger percent of the funding for substance abuse programs.
All of Detroit’s marijuana tax revenue would fall short of being able to fund a substance abuse program for all youth in the city. The Health Department estimates it would cost upwards $5 million plus additional staffing to provide this service for 170,000 youths.
Detroit’s share of state marijuana excise taxes depends on the number of licenses in the city. A total of 100 are allowed under city ordinances.
The state collected $290 million in marijuana taxes last year. Detroit’s 33 licenses made up 4% of all 737 licenses in the state and received roughly $1.9 million as a result.