This week, I updated my annual guide to first-time dispensary deals across Michigan—and then called every single one on the list to make sure the deals are still actually happening.

We’ve also got a cannabis company drowning in unpaid bills, a crowdfunded legal defense for an alleged black market dealer, and four New Buffalo dispensaries being pushed out of town.

Plus, one of my favorite brands just dropped three tantalizing new strains, and I’m asking readers to settle a debate: Which Michigan city has the most underrated weed scene?

Let’s get into it.

This week’s top story is one that I update once a year. 

And it just got a fresh coat of paint.

Michigan has more than 800 licensed dispensaries, and nearly all of them are willing to cut you a deal just for walking through the door for the first time. With free joints, edibles, and other steep discounts, the competition for your first visit has never been more intense. 

RURAL RETREAT: Small, rural communities across Michigan that have relied heavily on taxes from recreational cannabis businesses are set to feel the brunt of an industry that’s rapidly consolidating, in part, due to oversupply, steep competition, and a new state wholesale tax.

GAGE GONE WRONG: TerrAscend, the Canadian company that paid $545 million for Gage Cannabis and then closed all 20 of its Michigan dispensaries last year, is drowning in unpaid bills, with several Michigan vendors alleging hundreds of thousands of dollars owed.

CROWDFUNDED DEFENSE: Activists are raising money to cover legal fees for a Michigan man who allegedly ran a large, black market cannabis operation. His supporters say no one should go to prison for weed. Others say whoever was moving that much product on the illicit market—dodging licensing fees and taxes along the way—probably isn’t hurting for cash.

NEW BUFFALO DRAMA: Four dispensaries in New Buffalo are headed to a June 22 hearing where township officials will consider revoking their permits over alleged zoning violations and regulatory infractions. On the list: Mint Cannabis, Trap Stars, The Refinery, and The Plug. 

CASINO WEED: The Hempire Collective, a family-owned dispensary with locations in Clare and Scottville, is reportedly opening a new store next to Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant. 

GROW HEIST: The last of six men who attempted to rob a Midland County cannabis grow operation at gunpoint nearly three years ago has been sentenced to three years in federal prison—marking the lightest sentence of the group. His attorney argued he was essentially coerced into the robbery to pay off a debt. All six men involved have now been sentenced.

ICYMI: If you missed last week’s newsletter, I took a deep dive into Alien Tek—a two-man cannabis farm near the base of Michigan’s Thumb that’s quietly growing some of the most interesting weed in the state. I tried four different strains. Read the full story here.

Last week I asked about your favorite fast food when you’re stoned.

Taco Bell won by a landslide. Nobody is surprised.

Panda Express came in a distant second. McDonald’s third. Only four of you voted for Arby’s, which is wrong. And out of more than 20,000 subscribers, not a single person voted for Subway—which is either a stunning indictment of Subway or my readership. Possibly both.

This week, let’s settle something important.

What’s Michigan’s most weed-friendly city? I’m skipping past the obvious answers—so Ann Arbor and New Buffalo are not listed on the ballot. Let’s give the underdogs a shot. 

Which Michigan city has the most underrated weed scene?

Stay tuned. I’ll report back with the results next week.

There are a handful of Michigan cannabis brands I’d recommend without even needing to try the product first. Tip Top Crop is one of them.

This Hazel Park grow operation has built a reputation for small-batch, high-quality weed that consistently punches above its price point. The owners and operators, Chris Dyla and Zack Jacob, boast over 30 years of combined growing experience between them—and it shows. 

I haven’t gotten my hands on their latest harvest. But it sure looks impressive. 

Purple Push Pop is labeled as a Jealousy-leaning indica with deep purple buds, thick trichome coverage, and a loud, gassy aroma that gives way to creamy, candy sweetness and a lingering, gassy finish. Gelly Runtz is a cross of Gelonade and Runtz with a sweet, citrusy, candy-like profile. And Blueberry Zyrup supposedly smells like blueberry pancakes drenched in syrup.

If you beat me to any of these, I’m going to need you to send me a full report. 

If you’re 65 or older and paying full price for weed, we need to talk.

Lake Life Farms—a Michigan-based dispensary with locations in Lansing and Cedar Springs—offers a 20% discount for customers 65 and older. The deal also extends to veterans and medical marijuana cardholders. But this week, we’re focused on the seniors. 

Baby boomers spent decades fighting for the legal right to smoke weed. 

They shouldn’t be paying full price for it now. 

And here’s the broader point: most Michigan dispensaries offer senior discounts, which a lot of folks never think to ask about. So, always be sure to ask—every time. Even if they don’t have any deals, your budtender probably has a box of free joints laying around somewhere. 

I’ve spent the last two weeks eating gummies at bedtime in the name of journalism.

It’s a tough job.

The assignment: buy four different sleep gummies at four different price points, take the same dose at the same time every night, and figure out what actually works. After two weeks of data collection, I’ve now got a pretty clear picture—and I’ve never felt more well-rested in my life.

The tin in the photo is Camino Sours’ Blackberry Dream, which has “DEEP SLEEP” printed right on the front in case you had any questions about its intentions. Each gummy is an even 10 mg mix of THC, CBD, and CBN—which, in my opinion, is the perfect mix for zonking out quickly.

I’ll get into what CBN actually does to you next week. For now, just know that it works.

Stay safe out there ‘Ganders. Remember that recreational cannabis is only legal in Michigan for ages 21 and up—and it’s NEVER OK to get high and drive.