7 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

MICHIGAN— Michigan’s weed scene is always moving.

Here are the latest developments:

SALES PLUNGE: Michigan’s legal weed market took a sharp hit in January, with monthly sales dropping 16% to roughly $227 million. That marks one of the steepest month-to-month declines since voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, reports Crain’s Detroit Business.

TAX TROUBLE: Michigan’s new 24% wholesale cannabis tax is already rattling small operators who say the rollout has been confusing and the math unforgiving, reports the Morning Sun. With thinner profit margins, rising competition, and big multi-state chains able to stockpile inventory ahead of the tax, smaller mom-and-pop dispensaries warn this year could be a bloodbath.

THE NAUGHTY LIST: Several Michigan cannabis companies are reportedly facing thousands of dollars in fines for breaking state regulatory rules. Among those cited: Green Zone Michigan in Walled Lake, which was dinged for missing surveillance footage at its grow facility. Detour in Hazel Park was also fined for making unauthorized product transfers and mislabeling packages.

BILLBOARD BLUES: In a letter to the Detroit Free Press, a Royal Oak reader said he was “embarrassed and mortified” to cross back into Michigan on I-75 and be greeted by miles of cannabis industry billboards. He called the ads “insanely insulting” and urged lawmakers to rein in what he sees as a first impression that paints the state as a “haven for getting high.”

BLACK MARKET BUST: Michigan State Police say they dismantled a huge, multi-million-dollar illegal grow operation in metro Detroit—reportedly seizing more than 11,000 marijuana plants, 41 pounds of processed flower, eight firearms, high-end jewelry, and $146,000 in cash.

PLAYING WITH FIRE: A new study shows teenagers who use cannabis are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and depression later in life. Researchers told NPR the findings challenge the idea that weed is harmless for developing brains—especially as legalization expands and teen perceptions of risk continue to fall.

SPIT TESTS: Some Michigan lawmakers are still pushing to let cops use roadside saliva tests to screen drivers for drugs—including THC—similar to a breathalyzer for alcohol, WCMU reports. But the issue is complicated because science shows THC can linger in the body long after impairment fades, meaning the tests could sweep up drivers who aren’t actually high. 

READ MORE: Hash Bash returns to Ann Arbor without the Monroe Street Fair

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