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By Summer Ballentine, sballentine@detroitnews.com

Detroit — A new law imposing a 24% wholesale tax on marijuana retailers to fund road maintenance is set to take effect in the coming weeks unless a Michigan judge acts.

Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel on Tuesday weighed temporarily blocking the tax while a lawsuit seeking to throw out the levy plays out in court.

Michigan voters in 2018 approved a ballot proposal to legalize recreational marijuana and impose a 10% excise tax. Legislation approved last month would add a 24% wholesale tax on top of that.

Lawmakers want the tax money to help pay for a roughly $1.9 billion long-term road plan. Marijuana sellers say higher taxes will raise prices, dampen sales and force industry la

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