7 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

March 17, 2025

MICHIGAN—The wild world of recreational cannabis never slows down. And Michigan’s marijuana industry is certainly no exception. Whether it’s about new regulations, product launches, or major moves in the market, there always seems to be something burning.

Here are the biggest stories lighting up the weed scene this week:

HEAVY HITTER: Frogurt, a new marijuana strain from Endo, is making headlines for having a THC potency of 41%—a shockingly high threshold previously thought impossible to surpass.

TAX TROUBLE: Some Michigan cannabis farms are reportedly worried that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 32% wholesale tax on marijuana could force them to increase their prices for customers, which could ultimately lead to fewer sales and less revenue for dispensaries.

KNOCKOUT BLOW: Despite weed being legal in Michigan, professional boxer Claressa Shields was suspended by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs after testing positive for a trace amount of marijuana. It’s an embarrassing oversight that leaves the state lagging behind the times, writes Khalil AlHajal in a new column for the Detroit Free Press.

DANK RAPIDS: With nearly $1.5 million in tax revenue generated from 25 dispensaries last year, Grand Rapids has reportedly emerged as a major hub for marijuana in West Michigan.

SLOW BURN: Michigan’s legal cannabis industry is showing signs of a slowdown after a third straight month of declining sales at dispensaries statewide, reports Crain’s Detroit Business.

BUSTED: More than 2,000 pounds of weed and other drugs were seized from a “black market” butane hash oil production operation in Branch County, according to reports from MLive.

BILLBOARD BLUES: A recent proposal to restrict where marijuana advertisements can be located in the city of Detroit is reportedly moving forward to a full vote by the City Council.

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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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