tr?id=&ev=PageView&noscript=

7 Quick Hits of Cannabis News from Across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

September 7, 2023

MICHIGAN — Cannabis is a big deal in Michigan, and there’s never a shortage of newsworthy headlines from the industry as the state inches closer to becoming the nation’s weed capital.

Here are seven things you need to know this week:

DANK BRANDON: President Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services Department recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration downgrade cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III—the same drug category as Tylenol. It’s the first time that an arm of the federal government has formally suggested reclassifying cannabis since the start of the War on Drugs.

HELPING WORKERS: Because marijuana is still considered by the federal government to be a dangerous narcotic, existing regulatory restrictions have prevented Michiganders who work in the industry from accessing banking services. As a result, downgrading the Schedule I classification would reportedly help more Michigan companies to access those services

LET THERE BE WEED: The state’s biggest Labor Day weekend festival reportedly included a reserved space for the sale and consumption of cannabis. And experts expect more concerts, festivals, and other public gatherings in Michigan will soon feature the same sort of thing. 

BANDING TOGETHER: About 25 employees at an Ascend Cannabis store in Grand Rapids reportedly secured immediate pay raises after they voted to ratify a new union contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The deal reportedly marks the second collective bargaining agreement in the state’s cannabis industry that was ratified by the Teamsters; The United Food and Commercial Workers Union also represents cannabis workers in Michigan. 

BUSY DOCTORS: The results of a recent state audit are reportedly raising concerns after just 18 Michigan doctors were found to have been responsible for nearly 62% of the 134,709 medical marijuana patient certifications issued between April 2021 and September 2022. 

GRASS IS GREENER: Michigan is poised to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue while elected leaders in neighboring states (like Indiana) still resist legalizing pot

WEED 101: Northern Michigan University is reportedly the first school in the state to apply for a marijuana educational research license, which would allow it to bring cannabis plants into the classroom. The license is still awaiting approval from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

7 Quick Hits of Cannabis News from Across Michigan

Want more cannabis news? Click here to sign up for The MichiGanja Report, a free twice-a-month newsletter from The ‘Gander about all things cannabis. 

Author

  • Kyle Kaminski

    Kyle Kaminski is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than a decade of experience covering news across Michigan. Prior to joining The ‘Gander, Kyle worked as the managing editor at City Pulse in Lansing and as a reporter for the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

CATEGORIES: Uncategorized

Support Our Cause

Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Michiganders and our future.

Since day one, our goal here at The 'Gander has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Michigan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.

Karel Vega
Karel Vega, Community Editor
Your support keeps us going
Help us continue delivering fact-based news to Michiganders
Related Stories
VIDEO: A local program is helping curb gun violence in Lansing

VIDEO: A local program is helping curb gun violence in Lansing

https://www.tiktok.com/@gandernewsroom/video/7325499639338634542   Millions of dollars in grants awarded through Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration are set to help interrupt community violence before it has a chance to get worse. Among the grant recipients:...

Share This
BLOCKED
BLOCKED