This week, I’ve got the results of a cannabis sleep gummy experiment, a THC-infused energy drink that nobody asked for but exists anyway, a chance to win some free Electric Forest tickets, and your weekly rundown of everything else happening in Michigan weed right now.

Roll one up and read on. 

I’ve been working on this week’s top story for weeks.

Back in April, I bought four different brands of cannabis gummies that were marketed specifically for sleep. I’ve been eating them before bed and taking notes. And now that I’m finished with them, I can confidently say the results were not what I expected.

The products all had one thing in common: a cannabinoid called CBN, which the cannabis industry has quietly decided is the secret ingredient to a good night’s sleep. But whether that’s actually true is a more complicated question than the packaging would have you believe.

JOINT VENTURE: New research from Headset shows that pre-rolls have officially dethroned flower as the top-selling cannabis product in the country. And Michigan dispensaries played their part, selling more than 133 million pre-rolls last year at an average price of about $4.58.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Michigan is the undisputed cannabis king of the Midwest, but the crown may soon be at risk. New reporting suggests Ohio’s newer, less saturated, and generally more profitable market could make the Buckeye State a more attractive bet for investors.

WAITING ON WASHINGTON: Seven Democrats in the US House—including US Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan)—are reportedly pushing the IRS to offer guidance on how businesses can deduct additional expenses now that medical marijuana has been reclassified to Schedule III.

GOOD COP: Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who is running for governor this year, is continuing to make inroads with the state’s cannabis industry—recently reiterating his plans to repeal the state’s 24% wholesale weed tax during the annual Mackinac Policy Conference.

PIER PRESSURE: The tiny, 1,200-person city of Luna Pier in Monroe County could soon be home to a fourth dispensary. A public hearing is reportedly set for June 23 where city officials will consider rezoning the old Pier Inn hotel for an unnamed cannabis retail operation.

FULL SERVICE: Detroit cops reportedly shut down a BP gas station along the 4000 block of E. 7 Mile Road after the staff there were allegedly caught selling weed to undercover officers.

ICYMI: If you missed last week’s newsletter, I put together a big list of dispensary deals for first-time customers. I even called to make sure the offers are still valid. Check it out here. 

Last week, I asked about Michigan’s most underrated weed city.

The results were unprecedented. A five-way tie between Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Traverse City. I’ve never seen anything like it. The only thing this poll conclusively proved is that almost nobody thinks Flint has a decent weed scene. It got exactly one vote.

This week, we’re changing gears.

What’s your ideal edible dose?

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

The modern cannabis consumer is busy.

Too busy, apparently, to keep their stimulants and their depressants in separate cans.

I thought we learned something from the Four Loko era. Apparently not.

Buzzn Energy is a new line of THC-infused energy drinks from Lume and Emerald Canning Partners—the company that effectively runs the infused beverage market in Michigan. 

It comes in peach and raspberry lemonade, and the sales pitch is fairly straightforward: 100mg of caffeine to “sharpen your mind” and 7.5mg of THC to “smooth out the edges.”

Buzzn is mostly seltzers, so this is new territory for them, too. The warning label cautions against drinking more than four cans a day—which is wild enough that I had to share. 

Are they my jam? No. But I respect the audacity. 

And they’re on sale at Lume while supplies last.

Still don’t have Electric Forest tickets?

LIV Cannabis might have you covered.

The company is giving away a pair of Good Life tickets—and all you have to do is show up to one of their dispensaries before June 19. No purchase necessary. Just walk in, sign your name, and maybe score VIP tickets to one of the biggest music festivals in Michigan this summer.

I’ve never been to Electric Forest and I probably wouldn’t buy tickets. But a free pair? That’s a different story. Plus, this is the premium tier that always sells out for a reason.

It’s finally warm enough to sit outside and burn things.

That’s my backyard firepit in the background, along with a joint of Purple Haze from Flower of Life—one of the more premium entries I’ve been working through as an official judge for this year’s Best in Grass competition. (It’s a tough assignment; I’m managing.)

Flower of Life grows in organic living soil, which matters more than it sounds. The Purple Haze reflects that with a clean burn, complex aroma, and a dreamy, uplifting sort of high that’s exactly right for sitting around a fire and doing absolutely nothing productive.

I’m almost through scoring all of this year’s Best in Grass entries. More on that soon.

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.