Fellow Michigander,

It’s been a wild week in Michigan’s weed world. Dispensaries are still fuming over a new 24% wholesale tax, Cookies is back on the scene, and cannabis sales just took one of the biggest dips of the year. Oh—and I tested out a new “coughless” pipe that actually lives up to the hype.

And while everyone’s arguing about taxes and sales, most of us are just trying to smoke in peace without catching a ticket. That’s why this week, I’m also breaking down the state laws that matter and how to keep your next smoke session from turning into a real buzzkill.

Michigan’s weed laws might seem chill, but there’s still plenty of fine print buried in our state laws that can harsh your mellow if you’re not being careful. From public puffing to road-trip rules, here’s a quick guide to what every stoner should actually know before lighting up in Michigan. 

ROAD RAGE: Michigan dispensaries and cultivators are still up in arms over the state’s newly approved 24% wholesale tax on weed. But if a lawsuit challenging the tax succeeds, lawmakers say they’ll have to find $420 million a year somewhere else—or start making deep budget cuts.

COOKIE COMEBACK: The iconic California brand Cookies is relaunching its Michigan operations with a flashy new dispensary that opened this week in New Buffalo. 

SALES SLIDE: Michigan’s weed sales took a dip last month—down 11% from August and nearly 6% from last year. It’s one of the sharpest month-to-month drops this year and yet another clean sign that supply is still dramatically outpacing demand across the state. 

LIMA LIGHTS UP: Voters in Lima Township will decide in November whether to allow marijuana businesses to set up shop in town. A new ballot proposal would force local officials to rewrite their ban and allow up to two of each license type—from retailers to growers to transporters. And if it passes, the small rural community could see its first legal dispensaries next year.

BLACK MARKET BUST: Michigan State Police say a months-long investigation led them to two illegal grow operations in Isabella and Midland counties, where troopers seized more than 330 plants, a stash of guns, and several pounds of harvested weed. Both operations were reportedly powered by stolen electricity, with meters rigged to hide the theft. Two suspects now face a laundry list of felony charges, including running a criminal enterprise and defrauding a utility.

I’ve reviewed a lot of cannabis products in this newsletter. But this week’s pick is a little different.

Instead of a strain, gummy, or drink, I got my hands on a new piece of hardware that’s built to make smoking smoother, cleaner, and a lot less cough-inducing. It’s called the Maze-X Pipe.

I’m a joint guy through and through. But after a couple weeks of puffing with this pipe, I finally understand the hype. It cools, filters, and genuinely changes what it feels like to smoke a bowl. 

Check out my full review for a special coupon code, just for readers of The MichiGanja Report. 

Got a Michigan cannabis product worth reviewing?

Let me know and I’ll check it out.

Ripping a blinker is an act of philanthropy now. 

This month, Bud & Mary’s rolled out its new Aware-N-Us campaign—a four-state effort to raise at least $20,000 for breast cancer nonprofit organizations, including Michigan’s own Pink Fund, which helps patients cover everyday expenses while they’re in treatment. In Michigan, every two-gram Batch Juicy Melon vape sold in October will send $1 straight back to the cause. 

Harbor Farmz in Charlotte is getting into the spooky spirit—stoner style.

All month long, the dispensary is running a pumpkin-decorating contest for adults. Just carve, paint, or bedazzle your best gourd, then drop it off with the budtenders at the shop during your next visit. They’ll keep your pumpkin out front and announce the big winners on Halloween.

The top winner gets to pick an ounce of any weed they want. Second place still scores a free ounce—dealer’s choice—and third takes home a half. The porch is still pretty empty right now, so your odds are lookin’ real good. Just keep it classy, Charlotte. No crude pumpkins allowed.

Everyone’s talking about pumpkin spice and sweater weather. I’m just out here trying to squeeze in a few more afternoons at the park before the lighters in my car stop working.

This week’s smoke: Private Reserve OG from Premier Cannabis Farms—a Lansing-based crew that’s been perfecting their growing skills since the ’90s and still does everything by hand.

This strain has that classic, old-school funk, with a lot of pine and gas up front, followed by a smooth, full-body wave of relaxation. It was the perfect match for a chilly afternoon, a good hoodie, and a few more chapters of Morning Star from Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series.

Premier has been in heavy rotation for me lately—especially their deli drops. I’ve also been working through a couple ounces of their Yellow Lobster (no clue what it is, but it’s great), and I’ll definitely be filtering through online dispensary menus to seek out the brand in the future.

Got any good brand or book recs? Drop me a line. And feel free to send along pictures of your own Michiganja in the Wild moments for a chance to be featured in next week’s edition!

Do you or your company want to support The MichiGanja Report’s mission and showcase your products or services to an engaged audience of more than 15,000 cannabis enthusiasts at the same time? Contact advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Stay safe out there ‘Ganders. Recreational cannabis is only for use by individuals 21 years of age or older. Keep out of reach of children. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana. Contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.