9 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

MICHIGAN—Cannabis is a pretty 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 nine things you need to know this week:

CASH CROP: New sales reports show that more than 750 dispensaries across Michigan sold more than $3 billion worth of cannabis in 2023, marking the first time that annual sales have topped $3 billion and putting the state on pace to become the cannabis capital of the country.

DOWNHILL DANK: Anyone who spends $50 or more at a Lume dispensary this month will reportedly receive a coupon for a free Thursday night skiing ticket at Mount Bohemia. 

FAN FAVORITE: Not all marijuana strains are created equal. Runtz—a cross between Zkittles and Gelato that’s known for its zippy, caryophyllene-forward chemical profile—has been officially named as Michigan’s most popular weed strain of 2023, reports Cannabis Business Times. 

NEW STORE: One of the state’s largest cannabis retailers—JARS Cannabis—has opened another new dispensary in Port Huron. It’s open every day and located at 404 Quay Street. 

PEER PRESSURE: About 12% of US adults between the ages of 50 and 80 reported using cannabis within the past year, according to a recent study from Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research. Among the 2,000 adults who participated in the study, more than one-third of those who reported using cannabis in the last year also reported using it at least four days per week.

STILL GOT WAX: M66 Cannabis Co. hosted its grand opening late last month in Barryton. The new dispensary at 3023 20 Mile Rd. was reportedly converted from an abandoned car wash. The company also operates a cultivation facility in the region, according to recent news reports.

HIGH CRIMES: A 24-year-old Detroit man accused of breaking into a Ferndale dispensary is facing trial for felony charges after authorities said he and an accomplice backed up an SUV and rammed it through the store’s glass doors, according to reports from the Oakland Press. 

MIAMI MYSTERY: A new “Mystery Weed” contest from Pleasantrees is challenging its customers to buy four bags of unlabeled weed and then guess the strains. And those who correctly identify them will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a trip (for two) to Miami.

STAY TOASTY: Ahead of recent blizzard conditions in West Michigan, dispensary operators in Grand Rapids and along the lakeshore reportedly tracked a massive spike in cannabis sales, as well as purchase volume, as Michiganders looked to stock up on the essentials. 

READ MORE: Who makes the best weed vapes in Michigan?

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