Reader’s Choice: 8 Best Pot Shops in Michigan

Michiganders know a thing or two about weed—so we asked hundreds of them to tell us about their favorite pot shops in the Mitten. Here’s what they told us.

MICHIGAN—The latest state regulatory reports show that there are nearly 700 recreational marijuana dispensaries across Michigan. Picking which one to visit can be a challenge, especially with prices being at one of their lowest points since voters decided to legalize cannabis in 2018.

Thankfully, readers of The MichiGanja Report know a place—or eight of them.

Over the last month, hundreds of readers recommended dozens of dispensaries from every corner of the Mitten. The following list, compiled in alphabetical order, features the eight retailers that were most frequently cited as being among the best pot shops in the state of Michigan:

Ascend Cannabis

One of Michigan’s most highly recommended pot shops is also among its most prolific retailers. Ascend Cannabis now operates eight dispensaries across the state—including one in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, East Lansing, and Morenci, and three more in Grand Rapids.

Readers primarily pointed to lower-than-average prices and better-than-average weed to rank Ascend among their top favorites. Each of its stores is built to be efficient, uncomplicated, and informative—where budtenders steer, nudge, recommend, and gently push their customers to discover new things, as well as re-discover the old ones. And while the company operates in five other states, each store menu is usually filled with a wide roster of locally grown brands.

Pro Tip: Check out the free delivery options or order online for a super-speedy pickup.

The Botanical Co.

With four dispensaries in Lansing, Tawas, Middleville, and Kalkaska, most Michiganders are never too far from The Botanical Co. And that’s good news because a lot of readers recommended these stores—namely for their ultra-informative staff and top-tier marijuana.

The budtenders at The Botanical Co. don’t believe in “silly” questions and recognize that you probably won’t know everything about a product you’ve never used. That’s why each store is expressly designed to help customers learn more about the benefits of cannabis, and develop regimens that work best for them. They even offer private consultations upon request.

Pro Tip: The Lansing location is a convenient pitstop for those landing at the Capital Region International Airport. The Kalkaska location is also right next door to a consumption lounge.

Bud Brothers Cannabis Co.

This reader favorite launched in 2018 with two goals in mind: to provide the highest quality cannabis products in Michigan and to make sure every single customer feels like family. 

Today, Bud Brothers’ mission remains the same, and MichiGanja readers recommended its two locations in Bay City and Battle Creek primarily for their expansive menus and friendly employees who are always sure to help them find the best products that work best for them.

Pro Tip: You can’t go wrong with any products from the Glorious Cannabis Co. brand.

Dunegrass Cannabis Co.

MichiGanja Report readers have decided: Dunegrass Cannabis Co. is King of the North. 

This cannabis company was founded by lifetime residents of Northern Michigan and operates seven locations in Beulah, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Gaylord, Manistee, Marquette, and Traverse City. Readers primarily recommended them for their ultra-premium bud and rock-bottom prices.

Last year, the company rebranded itself as “Northern Michigan’s cannabis outfitter,” and now also promotes cannabis-friendly Up North tourism activities like kayaking and mountain biking.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check out the company’s Responsible Cannabis Guide.

JARS Cannabis

If you haven’t spotted a JARS dispensary somewhere in your city, it’s probably because your locally elected leaders have decided not to allow for recreational cannabis sales in your area. 

This company now operates a whopping 17 retail locations across Michigan, including in Ann Arbor; Battle Creek; Centerline; Detroit; Flint; Grand Rapids; Lansing; Monroe; Mount Clemens; Mount Pleasant; Muskegon; Owosso; Oxford; River Rouge; Saginaw; and Saugatuck.

With additional stores in Arizona and Colorado, JARS prides itself in offering one of the widest varieties of some of the nation’s best cannabis products—all at prices that people can afford.

Don’t have a JARS store nearby? Don’t worry. They’re probably coming. More stores are opening soon in Hazel Park, Leoni Township, New Buffalo, Port Huron and Wayland. 

Pro Tip: Never pay full price. There are always promotions and discounts available at JARS.

Local Roots Cannabis

In 2021, lifelong Michigander Roy Liskey and his mother Ronda, a former medical marijuana caregiver, decided to venture into recreational cannabis with one simple goal in mind: to bring high-quality, affordable and friendly cannabis into the small mid-Michigan city of Laingsburg.

Now more than two years later, those same guiding principles have helped Local Roots Cannabis stand out among the state’s highest-rated pot shops—with the awards to prove it.

Liskey told me that his shop differentiates itself from the corporate cannabis giants, in part, because of his small-town approach to business. While other shops try to resemble Apple stores with flashy screens and gimmicks, Local Roots tries to keep things cozy with good deals, a homey atmosphere, and a friendly, familial sort of approach to customer service. 

The Liskey family also personally samples every product before it hits the shelves. 

Pro Tip: Check out anything grown by Old School Organics. Liskey says it’s the best.

Pincanna

Pincanna gets its name from its massive growing facility in Pinconning, which supplies most of the products at its three retail locations in East Lansing, Kalamazoo and Kalkaska. And by cutting out the middleman, this company is able to pass some savings along to its customers.

Its portfolio now includes 10 distinct brands designed for just about every smoker (or vaper) in Michigan—from super cheap, $99 ounces of small buds for the bargain shopper, to $50 eighters of some of the state’s most premium cannabis for veteran tokers. There are lots of edibles, too.

Pro Tip: Pincanna recently worked with Peninsula Gardens to make some new concentrates. They come in five different strains—and the 3.5g “baller jars” are on sale this week for $60.

The Reef

There are a few pot shops battling for the title of Michigan’s “largest” dispensary—but only one of them was recommended several times by readers of The MichiGanja Report: It’s The Reef.

With two locations in Detroit and Muskegon, the company is known for its huge saltwater fish tanks, helpful budtenders and swanky lounge area. They even offer free popcorn, coffee and tea to guests while they help them track down the right product from their enormous menus.

 Pro Tip: The shop’s recurring 4/$99 special on disposable Breeze vape pens is a steal of a deal.

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