7 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

There’s never a shortage of news from the cannabis industry as Michigan inches closer to becoming the nation’s weed capital.

Kyle Kaminski

June 11, 2024

MICHIGAN—Cannabis is a 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 seven things you need to know this week:

CANNABIS CAPITAL: By some metrics, Michigan is now home to the largest legal weed market in the world. Although California is still outselling Michigan on the overall revenue front, about 800,000 more individual cannabis products were reportedly sold in Michigan in March—marking the first time that another state has surpassed California by sales volume.

MOM AND POP SHOP: A long-time marijuana growing operation in Niles has officially opened its doors for retail sales as one of only a handful of licensed microbusinesses in Michigan. Michigan Remedies is open every day (except Tuesday) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SWEET RELIEF: By reclassifying weed as a Schedule III drug, President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly opening the door to new research opportunities that could help Michigan scientists better understand how (and why) weed works so well for pain management.

HARD TIME: Ryan Richmond, a Bloomfield Hills businessman who owned the medical marijuana dispensary Relief Choices in Warren, was reportedly sentenced to 24 months in prison for tax evasion and obstructing an IRS investigation. He was found guilty in September.

GRASS IS GREENER: A new study shows that legalizing weed increases property values—namely because access to a dispensary has been found to be important for new homeowners, and the added convenience can increase home values by two percentage points.

NEW IN KALAMAZOO: House of Dank is reportedly opening a new dispensary in Kalamazoo on June 14. In-store and online shopping will be available daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

HOT DEMAND: Graduates of Northern Michigan University’s medicinal plant program (as well as other Michigan college programs that focus on marijuana cultivation and processing) are reportedly drawing substantial interest from potential employers in the cannabis industry.

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