6 Ways to Elevate Your Michigan Summer with Cannabis

There’s nothing better than summertime in Michigan. But there are a few ways that cannabis can help enhance the summertime experience. Here are six of them.

MICHIGAN—We Michiganders love our weed—even more so in the summer.

Ask any budtender at any pot shop, and they’ll likely all tell you the same thing: More pot products, on average, are sold during the summer months than any other time of the year. Statistics show that last month alone, Michiganders dropped nearly $250 million on weed.

Why? Because Michigan stoners love summer just as much as any other Michigander—and because Michigan, especially during the summer months, is just a great place to get blazed.

Below you’ll find my personal recommendations for six of my all-time favorite summer activities in the state, along with some of my favorite cannabis products to ignite your next adventure:

Blazed Bonfires at North Bar Beach

• Product Recommendation: Pre-Rolled Joints

Local residents are probably going to hate me for spilling the beans on this hidden gem—but any guide to a Michigan summer would be incomplete without mentioning it. Sorry, not sorry.

North Bar Beach is tucked along the coast of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near the village of Empire, where the warm waters of North Bar Lake connect by a small channel to Lake Michigan. It’s about 40 minutes from Traverse City, but well worth the scenic drive to get there.

Those intimidated by the larger, colder waves of Lake Michigan can easily retreat to the shallower, crystal clear waters of North Bar Lake—which serves as a serene place for swimming, skimboarding, sandcastle building, as well as kayaking and paddle boarding.

My favorite part: Bonfires on the beach, which are allowed as long as you pick up after yourself.

For this trip, I’d recommend arriving a few hours before sunset with a whole bag of pre-rolled joints. That way you don’t have to worry about twisting up your own sandy spliffs on the beach.

Just light one up, and let the sound of the crashing waves take you on a journey of relaxation and deep conversations with friends. Redemption Cannabis just released 28-packs of pre-rolled joints called “Border Bundles,” which should be enough to last you and your friends ‘til dusk.

High Hiking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

• Product Recommendation: Edibles

The North Country National Scenic Trail might just be the most scenic hiking destination in the state of Michigan. And it’s an even more amazing sight to behold when you’re totally high.

Hikers can pick up the trail at Grand Marais, Twelvemile Beach, Miners Castle, or Munising for an enjoyable day hike—or hike the entire 42-mile stretch and pitch a tent along the way. It passes along the coast of Lake Superior alongside the Au Sable Light Station and Chapel Rock.

For this trip, I’d recommend packing along some THC-infused edibles. You’ll want to give your lungs a break for the hike, plus edibles are easy to pack and tend to have longer-lasting effects. 

Dunegrass Co. recently released “Lift Strips” at several dispensaries across Northern Michigan. They’re discreet, square-shaped strips infused with THC that dissolve right on your tongue. And they might just be the smallest, most lightweight option for hikers on the trail this summer.

Concerts with Cannabis at Pine Knob 

• Product Recommendation: Vape Pens

There are a ton of great artists performing at Pine Knob this summer. But one of them is of particular significance for Michigan stoners: Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa’s show on July 23. 

Both artists have secured a permanent place in American cannabis culture—which means you’ll probably be able to catch a contact buzz at the concert regardless of the venue’s actual policies.

For this concert, and any others this summer, I’d still recommend bringing a portable vaporizer pen. Unless you’re really obnoxious about it, security will likely let it slide even if they spot you. Just make sure you charge your battery or you might run out of juice during the encore. 

Pro Tip: Check out The Reef in Detroit for a wide range of vaporizer cartridges, including cheaper, pre-charged, disposable pens that you can toss in the trash right after the show. 

Paddling with Pot on the Au Sable 

• Product Recommendation: Edibles

The Au Sable National Scenic River is a 23-mile portion of the Au Sable River that stretches from Mio to Alcona Pond. Its designation as a “National Scenic River” means exactly what you might expect—that it’s so remarkably scenic that the federal government decided to protect it. 

Like most remarkably scenic things, this river is even more scenic when you’re baked.

For this trip, I’d recommend bringing along some high-calorie edibles—like brownies or gummies. The extra sugar may provide an extra boost of energy in the summer sun, and the resulting high will make the relaxing cruise down the picturesque river all the more enjoyable.

Pincanna has a variety of 200mg chocolate bars that are perfect for splitting with a friend. Just remember to stick them in the cooler, or you’ll end up with a melty, chocolatey mess.  

Pro Tip: Don’t bother bringing joints. One wrong paddle, and you’ll be soggy and sorry. 

Munchie Madness at the Eastern Market 

• Product Recommendation: Concentrates

This next suggestion is my favorite way to spend a Sunday morning in the Motor City. 

The Eastern Market in Detroit is the largest open-air market in the country, where hundreds of vendors and restaurants have converged for more than a century to sell fresh produce and specialty foods. Over the years, it has grown into a marketplace for just about everything.

For me, it’s a one-stop-shop for satisfying the munchies.

I’d recommend setting an alarm, having a few dabs with your morning coffee, and getting to the market shortly after it opens at 10 a.m. Early birds always get the freshest worms—and in this case, the worms are bustling stalls filled with mouthwatering treats and the freshest ingredients.

Grab some fresh fruit and baked goods to eat for breakfast as soon as you arrive. Buy some flowers. Peruse the crafts. Stop and grab some lunch while you’re there, and then load up on the finest ingredients to make a world-class lunch for dinner when you make it back home.

Pro Tip: You can’t go wrong with any cannabis concentrates from 710 Savant. Sunday hours end in September. The market is also open year-round on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Stoned Strolling at Frederik Meijer Gardens

• Product Recommendation: Pre-Rolled Joints

This Grand Rapids garden and sculpture park is a great place to be while high—but it’s not a great place to get high. So, make sure you take care of your business before you arrive. 

After finishing your pre-arrival pre-rolls, you can expect to be treated to a full day of art and nature at the 158-acre campus—which includes Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory, five indoor theme gardens, outdoor gardens, nature trails, a boardwalk, sculpture galleries, and more. There’s even a café for those who find themselves hungrier than usual on the trip.

Pro Tip: The Japanese Garden is a relaxing place to zen out for some mid-day meditation.

READ MORE: Reader’s Choice: 8 Best Pot Shops in Michigan

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