9 Quick Hits of Cannabis News from Across Michigan

MICHIGAN—Cannabis is a pretty big deal in Michigan—and there’s never a shortage of newsworthy headlines from the industry as the state inches closer to becoming the nation’s weed capital.

Here are nine things you need to know this week:

NOW HIRING: Michigan is reportedly considering major changes to its drug testing policy for current and prospective state employees—including provisions allowing adults over the age of 21 to work in most state jobs without being required to pass a drug test for cannabis use.

WEIGH IN: The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency is reportedly looking for feedback on how to improve the cannabis industry. It’s hosting a meeting at 9:30 a.m. on June 15 at 2407 N. Grand River Ave. in Lansing. Remote attendance options will be available via Zoom. 

JOB BOOM: New reports show that Michigan is home to more cannabis-related jobs than just about every state in the country. More than 4,000 cannabis-related jobs were created in Michigan over the last year—putting the statewide total at more than 35,000 employees.

WILD TIMES IN WALLED LAKE: Popular rapper-turned-country singer Jelly Roll stopped by the Greenhouse of Walled Lake last week to perform some tracks from his upcoming album “Whitsett Chapel.” About 1,000 people reportedly turned up to hear the performance. 

HIGH IN HAZEL PARK: The Michigan family behind the B.D.T. smoke shop in Hazel Park reportedly plans to expand the business into a full-on recreational marijuana dispensary, with a new pot shop called The Hive (soft) opening in the same building on Friday, June 2.

ANOTHER NEW STORE: Exclusive Brands announced the grand opening of its newest adult-use dispensary in Oxford, marking the company’s 10th retail location in Michigan.

IN THE NEWS: Treetown was featured on CBS News. Over the last five years, the Ann Arbor-based company has earned a reputation for making some of the best edibles in Michigan.

GIVING BACK: Everyone who bought Stiiizy brand products in Michigan on 420 this year reportedly helped to fund the planting of 120 mature trees in Troy, Frankenmuth, Dearborn Heights, Tecumseh, and Gaylord through a recent partnership with ReLeaf Michigan. 

HIGH PERFORMANCE: Former Pittsburg Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell—who was drafted in the second round from Michigan State University—reportedly admitted to smoking weed before NFL games. “I’d smoke and go out there and run for 150,” Bell said. 

READ MORE: 7 Michigan-Grown Sativa Strains for a Spirited Summer

This article originally appeared in The MichiGanja Report, a free monthly newsletter from The ‘Gander about all things cannabis, written by political correspondent Kyle Kaminski. Click here to subscribe, and we’ll send the next edition straight to your inbox.