In Michigan, marijuana is legal, and cities like Detroit have embraced this new reality with open arms, recognizing its potential for economic growth and equity in the cannabis industry. However, the overwhelming presence of marijuana advertisements cannot be ignored. The truth is, they’re everywhere—on billboards near schools, plastered across bus stops, and dominating storefronts. This constant visibility normalizes consumption in ways that disproportionately impact our youth, raising urgent questions about the balance between economic opportunity and community health.
Detroit City Council took a decisive step Tuesday to protect its children from the pervasive influence of harmful advertising. In a landmark resolution, the council set the groundwork for banning advertisements promoting marijuana, tobacco, and nicotine products in areas frequented by children. This action signals a critical shift in Detroit’s approach to safeguarding public health while confronting the growing normalization of substances among its youth.
Council Members Scott Benson and Angela Whitfield-Calloway championed this measure, underscoring the urgent need for stronger regulation. “It’s incumbent on us to protect the youth,” Benson stated, a clear acknowledgment of the responsibility local leadership bears in this era where marijuana has become more accessible and affordable. Their commitment reflects a broader understanding of how advertising can shape behavior, particularly in vulnerable populations.
The resolution is a formal declaration that the city has a compelling interest in shielding children from exposure to advertisements for substances that pose significant health risks. This step also clears a legal pathway for Detroit to impose targeted restrictions on commercial speech without violating First Amendment rights. By affirming this interest, the city sets the stage to implement a far-reaching ordinance that will reshape its advertising landscape.
Once enacted, the proposed ordinance will ban advertisements for marijuana, tobacco, and nicotine products within 1,000 feet of places where children gather, including schools, parks, childcare centers, libraries, and recreational facilities. These restrictions aim to disrupt the visibility of ads that normalize substance use among Detroit’s youth. Christina Floyd, deputy director of the city’s Health Department, highlighted a troubling correlation: marijuana and vaping usage is higher in areas with more advertisements. This data points to an environment where children are constantly exposed to products that can harm them, making regulation a necessary step.
Detroit’s efforts come as marijuana tax revenue continues to grow. The city’s 2025 budget projects a significant increase in marijuana tax income, nearly doubling from $1.9 million to $3.7 million. These funds, derived from an expanding number of licensed marijuana businesses, are split between the General Fund and targeted social equity initiatives. A notable $1 million is allocated annually to Homegrown Detroit, a program aimed at addressing racial inequities in the cannabis industry. The remaining $2.5 million supports citywide services.
However, only two percent of this revenue—approximately $40,000—is designated for youth substance abuse prevention through a program called Too Good for Drugs. This six-week initiative, designed to serve 500 to 1,000 children in four Detroit public schools, represents an important but limited response to a much larger problem. Negotiations to launch the program this fall are underway, but the scale of the funding underscores a critical gap in resources.
The health department has estimated that providing comprehensive substance abuse prevention programs to all of Detroit’s 170,000 youth would require upwards of $5 million annually, along with additional staffing. Current marijuana tax revenues fall significantly short of meeting this need, raising questions about how the city can better align its financial priorities with its public health goals.
Detroit’s share of state marijuana excise taxes illustrates the challenges of securing adequate funding. The city’s portion is determined by the number of marijuana licenses issued locally. Of the 737 licenses statewide, Detroit holds 33, which accounts for four percent of total licenses and roughly $1.9 million in excise tax revenue. As the state collected $290 million in marijuana taxes last year, Detroit’s share reflects a broader tension between economic opportunities in the cannabis industry and the social costs associated with its proliferation.
Benson and Whitfield-Calloway have stressed the need to balance these competing interests. Regulating advertisements is one way to protect children from the influence of substances while preserving the economic benefits of marijuana legalization. Yet the council must also grapple with how to allocate existing funds more effectively. Expanding programs like Too Good for Drugs would require legislative changes to direct a greater percentage of marijuana tax revenue toward youth prevention efforts.
The reality is clear: Detroit’s children are growing up in an environment where marijuana is increasingly normalized. Though marijuana is notably legal and has become an acceptable substance of choice, the advertising being as accessible to minors is causing concern. As more businesses open and advertising expands, the city faces a critical moment to act decisively. Restricting advertisements near places where children live and play is an important first step, but it must be part of a larger, sustained effort to address the systemic factors that make these substances accessible to youth.
The council’s actions also signal a broader commitment to prioritizing public health over profit. While the economic benefits of marijuana tax revenue are significant, they cannot come at the expense of Detroit’s children. Floyd’s data linking advertisement density to higher usage rates provides a stark reminder of the stakes involved. For every ad removed from the vicinity of a school or park, the city reduces the chances that a child will be influenced to try marijuana or vaping.
Detroit’s leaders now have an opportunity to build on this momentum. By adopting a proactive stance, the city can set a precedent for how urban centers nationwide address the intersection of public health and marijuana legalization. This resolution is an attempt to reclaim the environments where children should feel safe and free from harmful influences.
As Detroit moves forward with its ordinance, the challenges of funding and implementation remain. The city must find ways to expand substance abuse prevention programs, secure additional resources, and address the root causes of youth substance use. These efforts will require collaboration across city departments, community organizations, and advocacy groups. It will also demand a willingness to rethink how marijuana tax revenues are allocated to ensure they reflect the city’s priorities.
The council’s resolution is a vital step in a long journey. It acknowledges the power of policy to shape outcomes and the responsibility of leaders to act in the best interests of their communities. For Detroit’s children, this action sends a powerful message: their health and well-being come first. As the city moves toward adopting the ordinance, it must remain focused on the bigger picture—a future where children can grow up without the shadow of harmful advertising influencing their choices.
