Ask Dr. Litinas: Why buying from a licensed Michigan dispensary matters

Ask Dr. Litinas is a column that publishes twice monthly as part of The MichiGanja Report—our free, weekly newsletter about all things marijuana. Click here to sign up.

MICHIGAN—If you’re an adult in Michigan, you have the legal right to purchase cannabis. That’s a powerful freedom—but with it comes a responsibility to make safe choices about where you get your products. The smartest move you can make? Shop at a licensed dispensary. 

There are plenty of reasons to skip the unregulated market, but let’s focus on two of them:

1. You get safe, tested products.

Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) has built one of the country’s most reliable weed oversight systems. Every product sold through a licensed dispensary must undergo rigorous testing before it hits the shelf. That means your flower, concentrates, vapes, edibles, and tinctures are screened for contaminants like mold, pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents.

That testing isn’t just red tape. It’s about protecting public health and making sure what you consume is exactly what you think it is. The CRA deserves credit for maintaining high standards and holding Michigan’s cannabis industry accountable and safe for consumers and patients.

2. You know your dose.

Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis consumer or just cannabis-curious, understanding your dosage is essential for getting the most out of your cannabis journey. 

Licensed dispensaries carry products with clearly labeled THC and CBD content that are tested for potency, so you can better control your experience and downstream effects. This is especially important for newbies or anyone using cannabis for wellness or therapeutic reasons.

When you buy from a dispensary, you can start low, go slow, and know precisely how much you’re consuming. That control and safety is not possible with untested, unregulated products.

If you care about what goes into your body and how it affects you, licensed dispensaries are the way to go. Michigan’s cannabis system was built for safety—might as well take advantage of it.

Got a question about weed for Dr. Litinas? Send it in here. We’ll get you a response. 

This content is for education, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making any health decisions—especially when it comes to cannabis. Products are only for adults ages 21 and up. 

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