6 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

By Kyle Kaminski

February 3, 2026

MICHIGAN—From smash-and-grabs and lab testing drama to mayoral politics and border-state busts, it’s been a busy week for Michigan’s weed world.

Here are some of the biggest headlines you might’ve missed:

BREAK-IN BLITZ: Dispensaries are beefing up security after a spike in smash-and-grabs across the state, mostly in southeast Michigan. Some stores are reportedly adding panic buttons and new locked entry systems. Police warn these crimes tend to come in waves.

PRISM PROBE: Michigan regulators are reportedly accusing Walled Lake-based Prism Triangle—one of the state’s largest weed testing labs—of fudging the numbers so the products it tested would pass state-mandated pesticide screening. Prism denies any wrongdoing.

MICHIGAN HISTORY: Ever heard of Michigan’s weird little weed loophole of 1972? The ‘Gander recently took a look back at that one time in Michigan when a court ruling briefly wiped all state marijuana penalties off the books—making cannabis effectively legal in Michigan for 22 days. It’s a fun story and a reminder that Michigan’s cannabis culture didn’t start in 2018.

CANNABIS CANDIDATE: Ex-state lawmaker and frequent Hash Bash speaker Yousef Rabhi is reportedly jumping into Ann Arbor’s mayoral race. He’s challenging longtime Mayor Christopher Taylor, setting up a high-profile primary in one of Michigan’s most cannabis-friendly cities.

BORDER BUSTS: Crossing into Wisconsin with Michigan weed? Tread lightly. Reports from the Upper Peninsula border say the Wisconsin State Patrol has been cracking down on cannabis possession, with drivers getting stopped for minor infractions and then searched.

TOO MUCH WEED: New Buffalo Township residents are pushing back on a dispensary boom that’s turning their beach town into a border-state weed hub. With 29 shops open and more on the way—nearly one for every 70 residents—locals say the extra tax cash isn’t worth the traffic headaches, litter, and “weed destination” reputation for which they’ve become known.

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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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