5 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

September 22, 2025

MICHIGAN—Politics, pot, and a little bit of psilocybin.

Michigan’s weed world never really slows down, and this past week brought us a little bit of everything—from a controversial prison release and a union fight with national implications to a psychedelic party that the University of Michigan just couldn’t stop. Here’s your rundown:

EARLY OUT: Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson is already out of federal prison after serving just 21 months of a 55-month sentence for taking bribes to push through weed licenses during his time on a state regulatory commission. His release has sparked backlash from prosecutors, who called it a blow to accountability in Michigan’s cannabis industry.

PSYCHEDELIC PRECEDENT: The University of Michigan reportedly tried to block this year’s shroom-focused Entheofest, arguing the rally promoted illegal drugs and posed a safety risk. But a judge ruled the ban unconstitutional, comparing it to U-M’s long-running Hash Bash and ordering the school to grant the permit. The festival went on without a hitch this past weekend.

UNION BUSTERS: Exclusive Brands is reportedly telling the National Labor Relations Board that Michigan’s cannabis workers shouldn’t get federal labor protections, namely because marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Workers at the company’s Ann Arbor dispensary have been on strike since late August, accusing Exclusive Brands of retaliation and stonewalling. And if the Trump-controlled board agrees, union rights for cannabis workers could go up in smoke.

TAX TROUBLES: While Michigan Democrats weigh a new wholesale tax on cannabis, California lawmakers are reportedly moving in the opposite direction with a bill to roll back the state excise tax from 19% to 15%. California’s cannabis sales have lagged behind other states. The tax cut is designed to keep weed affordable and pull buyers away from the black market.

VIRIDIS EXPOSED: Weeks after regulators yanked Viridis Labs’ licenses, City Pulse dropped a scorcher detailing how the once-dominant testing outfit built its empire on inflated THC results, shady methods, and a legacy of deception. State regulators say the lab even green-lit moldy weed for sale. Its founders—ex-Michigan State Police staffers now permanently banned from the industry—are now being cast as the poster children for greed in Michigan cannabis.

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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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