Cannabis meets community at Rolling Embers’ outdoor lounge in New Buffalo

Where else can you buy a 1,000 mg edible, then (legally) spark up a joint or two right outside? Rolling Embers is putting southwest Michigan on the map with its unique product selection and outdoor cannabis lounge.

NEW BUFFALO—At most Michigan dispensaries, the customer experience ends the moment you walk out the front door. But at Rolling Embers, that’s where the party begins.

Located just minutes from the Indiana border, Rolling Embers has quietly carved out a space unlike anything else in Michigan’s cannabis industry: a full-service dispensary paired with an outdoor consumption lounge, where customers can immediately light up the products they buy.

Courtesy Photo/Rolling Embers

Opened in 2023 by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Rolling Embers operates under its own distinct set of tribal cannabis regulations—allowing it to dodge state purchase limits (among other state regulations) and sell ultra-potent edibles with up to 1,000 mg of THC. 

And as warmer weather settles back in over southwest Michigan this month, Rolling Embers is officially shaking off its winter hibernation with live music, infused drinks, canna-bingo nights, puff-n-paint sessions, and a huge, open-air space for stoners to chill out and spark up.

A Different Kind of Dispensary

Technically, Rolling Embers isn’t licensed by the state of Michigan.

Instead, it’s overseen by the Pokagon Band’s own Cannabis Regulatory Commission, with product testing and consumer protections that mirror—or exceed—state standards.

That tribal sovereignty gives Rolling Embers a few major advantages over most Michigan dispensaries. Products sold there aren’t subject to the state’s 100 mg cap for edibles, meaning customers can legally pick up edibles packing up to 1,000 mg of THC in a single package.

Shoppers can also pick up much larger quantities in a single transaction. And the menu is filled with brands you just won’t find anywhere else in the state—sourced directly from local caregivers and tribal suppliers rather than Michigan’s mainstream cannabis companies.

Kyle Kaminski/The ‘Gander Newsroom

“We’re the shop for people who know cannabis,” General Manager Chris Rader told The MichiGanja Report during an interview at the dispensary in January. “You can really see the difference in the flower. It’s not mass-produced. It’s hand-grown, clean, pure cannabis.”

Rolling Embers’ model means familiar brands like Jeeter and STIIIZY aren’t on the shelves. But for customers willing to venture off the beaten path, the reward is access to small-batch, craft cannabis that’s often fresher—and stronger—than what’s stocked at corporate dispensaries.

During my visit, I picked up a goodie bag for myself and the difference was clear. The brands I sampled—including Ganjamama’s and The Canna-Man—packed a certain potency and flavor that’s nearly impossible to find from other brands that are more focused on quantity over quality. 

Michigan’s Only Outdoor Cannabis Lounge

One of Rolling Embers’ biggest draws isn’t inside the dispensary—it’s just outside.

While Michigan dispensaries have multiplied across the state in recent years, Rolling Embers remains one of only a few places where customers can legally smoke what they just bought—and it’s currently the only place in Michigan where they can do it outside.

The outdoor lounge at Rolling Embers stretches out like a backyard party spot: open seating, fire pits, flat-screen TVs playing sports and movies, food trucks rolling through for bigger events, and this spring, a full outdoor dab bar offering single hits, infused beverages, and more.

Courtesy Photo/Rolling Embers via J. Henry Photography

“When the weather’s nice, it’s basically one giant party,” said Katy King, a staff member at Rolling Embers. “Everyone’s just passing joints, talking to each other, and really vibing out.”

Same-day purchases are required for access to the lounge, and there are a few house rules—like no outside cannabis, no dab rigs or torches, and no alcohol or tobacco. But the vibe is easygoing, friendly, and dog-friendly, with plenty of space to spark up under the sun.

Rolling Embers also leans into its outdoor space with regular live music, weekend DJs, puff-n-paint sessions, and canna-bingo nights. Whether you’re after a low-key afternoon or a bigger party atmosphere, the lineup changes with the seasons—and the weather.

Building Community With Cannabis

While the outdoor consumption lounge is a big part of Rolling Embers’ appeal in the crowded cannabis market of New Buffalo, the bigger picture is about creating a different kind of cannabis community—one that feels a little less corporate, and a little more connected.

Their in-house “Cannabis Crown” competition, for example, encourages customers to judge small-batch products made by local growers. 

Kyle Kaminski/The ‘Gander Newsroom

The lineup usually changes with the seasons, but the focus always stays the same: bringing people together around cannabis in a way that still feels rare in Michigan’s evolving market.

“We like to lean into the things that make us different,” Rader said.

Rader also teased some bigger plans in the works, including a brand launch tied to a nationally recognized jam band that’s expected to be announced later this year. Visitors can stay in the loop by checking the website or following along on their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The Bottom Line

Michigan’s cannabis scene has changed fast—and not always for the better.

But places like Rolling Embers are keeping a different vision alive: one rooted in small-batch cultivation, tribal sovereignty, and building a real community around cannabis. Whether you’re looking for something new to smoke, a place to chill with your dog and a joint, or a summer event with actual cannabis culture baked in, Rolling Embers is worth a spot on your radar.

And if you mention The MichiGanja Report at checkout, you’ll get 10% off your order.

READ MORE: 5 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

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