9 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

March 3, 2025

MICHIGAN—Michigan’s cannabis industry is always evolving, with new headlines rolling in faster than a fresh joint at a smoke session.

Here are nine stories that are sparking up the scene this week:

WEED WINDFALL: More than $331 million in tax revenue from the sale of recreational weed is reportedly being distributed to local municipalities, counties, and tribes across Michigan—with a grand total of 302 local entities and tribes receiving over $58,000 for each dispensary and micro-business that was licensed to operate within their boundaries in 2024. Tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue will also provide more funding for public schools and road repairs.

HEAVY HAUL: A Macomb Township man will reportedly face felony drug charges after authorities allegedly found nearly 120 lbs. of marijuana in the back of his Ford F-150, along with $7,000 in cash that was “directly related to the sale of the marijuana on the black market.”

NEW LEAF: Skymint, which is nearing the end of a messy court-ordered receivership, is reportedly trying to rehabilitate its reputation—including by hiring a former retail region manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods to lead the day-to-day operations of its dispensaries in Michigan.

HOT BOX: Two-time Olympic gold medalist boxer Claressa Shields reportedly tested positive for marijuana despite claiming she never used the drug—possibly because she was exposed to second-hand smoke during a match inside the Dort Financial Center in her hometown of Flint.

BUZZKILL: City officials in Ann Arbor reportedly denied a permit for a marijuana-themed game night at a local senior center, which invited seniors to vape weed, eat crepes, and play bingo.

NEW IN TOWN: Jars Cannabis—the first marijuana dispensary in the city of Milan—is now open for business. A second dispensary is reportedly set to open in the city later this year. Ascend Cannabis also recently opened another Michigan dispensary in the city of Detroit. And despite some local concerns, the city of Menominee will soon welcome its eighth dispensary.

OHIO BLUES: Republican lawmakers in Ohio reportedly want to increase sales taxes on weed, which could lead to more Ohioans traveling into Michigan in search of more affordable products.

LEGAL BATTLE: Several dispensaries are reportedly suing the city of Grand Rapids over social equity policies for cannabis businesses that are designed to promote things like diversity in the workplace—namely because they’re being fined for failing to meet those benchmarks.

WEED SCIENCE: A new study from Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University has reportedly found a possible link between cannabis use among pregnant women and smaller newborns but says more research is needed to see if a cause-and-effect relationship exists.

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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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