Cannabis Group Says Two Members Died By Suicide As Industry Struggles

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/28/2026) Robin Schneider of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MiCIA) says two members have committed suicide in the last month as marijuana business owners struggle to keep up with the new 24% wholesale tax.

"Some of the issues are that they also can't even file for bankruptcy because it's still, federally not completely legal. So they don't have bankruptcy protections," said Schneider, the MiCIA's executive director, on the MIRS Monday podcast. "In fact, we've had a couple suicides over the last month, business owners, and I think that's part of the reason we're so emotional about this."

A new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana was created last year in order to fund the Governor and House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township)'s $1.8 billion road funding deal. The tax was projected to generate $420 million each year.

The MiCIA quickly filed a lawsuit, arguing that the Legislature unconstitutionally added something that voters did not approve when 55.89% of them supported Proposal 1 of 2018. The ballot measure to legalize weed recreationally for buyers 21 and older asked residents to support a 10% excise sales tax.

Unlike the 10% excise sales tax, which occurs at the end-point of sale, Schneider explained the additional 24% tax hits the growers and processors.

"And they already had such slim margins that there's just not 24% for them to give," Schneider said. "We've seen job losses. I think the hardest thing is watching employees who had full-time benefits, full-time hours, tell me that their hours have been cut and that they're losing their health care benefits."

She described walking into facilities to discover her friends were replaced with cheaper, seasonal workers. In the past year, she said about 30 businesses within the MiCIA have closed.

For the 2026 election cycle, the MiCIA has endorsed U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) for governor.

This endorsement was not one Schneider saw coming, recalling how, while organizing for Proposal 1 of 2018, she worked with Democrats to promote legalization and voted straight-ticket blue while James was running for U.S. Senate at the time.

"I've always felt like (Democrats) were more our natural allies, and unfortunately, in this election, they've been pretty clear they really don't want to work with us … in the governor's race," Schneider said.

She said MiCIA helped Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson get signatures for the Democratic primary because of how he voiced a commitment to helping the industry.

"And we tried to reach out to Secretary (Jocelyn Benson's) campaign, (and) really didn't get any kind of audience with her, and then we're told … 'Maybe after the primary she'll say something,' and then the primary happened," Schneider said. "And John James was like, 'Hey, I want to learn about your industry. I want to get to know you guys. I want to understand,' and he really treated our employees like they mattered."

James has publicly called to repeal or sharply reduce the 24% tax. Meanwhile, Benson has not taken a firm position on the tax's future, telling members of the press that a lot of data is yet to be determined.

In June, the state Treasury reported that, in the first three months of 2026, the tax made $34 million in revenue to go toward roads — below the roughly $86 million that it was forecasted to generate in 2026's first quarter (See "Cannabis Wholesale Tax Revenue Failing To Meet Projections," 6/5/26).

Benson did not commit to honoring Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Hall's road funding plan if elected when asked about it today at a Warren event.

"I certainly appreciate the work that they did. I knew that came through a lot of collaboration. I've got a lot of priorities I want to consider, especially on improving our public schools and reforming our economic development programs," Benson said. "We'll certainly keep what's worked. We examine what might not be working, and we'll make some decisions that I'll be pleased to be talking to you about, hopefully in January as the next governor."