Opinion: Detroit-based weed company serves ‘cannabis for humanity’ 

Michael Elias is the CEO of Common Citizen, a Detroit-based cannabis company that focuses on cannabis production, cultivation, processing, retail, and wholesale distribution for both medical and recreational marijuana markets in Michigan and across the United States. 

In 2018, I joined forces with my childhood friends from Detroit to produce the highest-quality cannabis that passes the most rigorous safety standards for the common citizen. At the same time, we envisioned a culture and lifestyle brand that improves lives, supports communities and educates people about the many health and wellness benefits of our safe, high-quality cannabis products.

Our company, Common Citizen, is making a real difference thanks to our amazing cultivation, retail and administrative staff across Michigan.

Along the way, we’ve been guided by Cannabis For Humanity—our belief that cannabis has the power to connect people and communities while improving lives. We consider it our civic duty to give back to the communities and people who have made our continued success and growth possible. Our 2023 holiday season efforts are a case in point.

Common Citizen employees collected nearly 5 tons of food to feed more than 2,000 families this holiday season through our “Danksgiving” effort. Throughout November, our employees volunteered 100 hours preparing and serving food, distributing food kits and more at local food pantries across a large swath of Michigan. The Danksgiving effort included a Can for a Gram canned food drive and helped raise more than $5,000 in partnership with Wyld, Good Tide and WeedMaps for food pantries in Flint, Marshall, Lansing, Detroit, Lake Orion, and Buchanan.

I couldn’t be prouder of our employees who continue volunteering their time and energy to help these communities that have welcomed us with open arms.

Our commitment to Cannabis For Humanity includes helping provide relief for people suffering from all forms of cancer. This fall, we raised $16,000 to advance breast cancer research at the world-renowned Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. Throughout October, we donated $1 of every purchase of our most popular brands, including Terple Gang, Jeeter, Wana and Triple Phoenix, toward breast cancer research.

The Common Citizen contribution was part of our continued advocacy for the ability of medical cannabis to provide relief and improve quality of life for patients, including those with cancer.

We are committed to helping our communities thrive, particularly those that have been disproportionately impacted by outdated cannabis laws. Through our Principle community reinvestment program, we have funded microgrants for arts and culture, early-stage business and community impact projects. All net profits from sales of Principle cannabis—sold in single, 1-gram pre-rolls in a decorative tin—fund the microgrants. To date, microgrants have been awarded to a Battle Creek-based music collaborative and supported statewide efforts to help those convicted of outdated cannabis laws expunge their related criminal records.

We will have more to report on our highly successful Principle program in 2024.

Thanks to our hardworking employees and loyal customers, my childhood friends and I are realizing our shared vision. Today, Common Citizen is one of Michigan’s most successful cannabis operators, with retail locations statewide, an expansive hybrid greenhouse in Marshall, and a growing line of premium products that provide a unique cannabis experience for patients and adult-use customers.

It is exciting to see our continued success reflected in the communities we serve and call home. We look forward to many more opportunities to serve Cannabis For Humanity in 2024 and beyond.

READ MORE: All Michigan cannabis workers want for Christmas is access to banking

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