11 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

August 19, 2024

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 11 things you need to know this week:

NOW HIRING: A new job fair coming to Pontiac on Sept. 9 is designed to offer a variety of “speed dating” networking opportunities for Michiganders interested in working with weed.

OLD SCHOOL SUDS: Jones Soda is reportedly partnering with Emerald Canning Partners to release a new line of cannabis-infused beverages that will be manufactured in Detroit. The upcoming “Mary Jones” brand is set to include both bottled sodas and mixing syrups.

RESCHEDULING 101: State regulators are reportedly asking the federal government to clarify how downgrading marijuana to a Schedule III controlled substance would align with existing state laws—including on the possibility of selling Michigan weed in neighboring states.

SHADY DEALING: Until federal regulators work out a system to allow for interstate commerce, Michigan weed companies cannot legally import products from other states. State regulators have reportedly cracked down on companies that have tried to get away with it.

WEED-O-LYZER: Some Michigan companies are reportedly deploying new breathalyzer-like technology to detect whether or not their employees are smoking weed on the clock—specifically for employees that routinely come in late or make other mistakes on the job.

TYPICAL OHIO: Recreational weed sales have begun in the state of Ohio. But as expected, the products aren’t getting the best reviews. Plus, Ohio marijuana is still obscenely overpriced.

STONER NEXT DOOR: A new study from the University of Michigan shows that cannabis use for both recreational and medical reasons has skyrocketed six-fold between 2016 and 2024.

PURE MICHIGAN WEED: The state of Michigan is reportedly standing out as a national model for other states that want to enact robust safety testing standards for recreational marijuana—including by using a monitoring system that automatically flags suspicious results.

ANN ARBOR ROOTS: Michigan-based C3 Industries has reportedly opened its first retail marijuana dispensary in Connecticut as the company continues to expand its operations across the country—including in Michigan, as well as Missouri, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

PLANTING SEEDS: An array of new programs for students at Baker College is reportedly designed to help Michiganders break out into a successful career in the cannabis business.

TOP DISPENSARIES: Detroit Metro Times recently published a big list of dispensaries across Michigan (and beyond) that are worth a last-minute summer road trip. Another recent list also features some of the most popular dispensaries in the city of Detroit.

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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.

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CATEGORIES: CANNABIS

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