The federal government is making history on weed. Meanwhile, I’ve been in the woods looking for mushrooms. One of those things matters more than the other. I’ll let you decide which.

This week’s newsletter covers both—along with the latest 420 sales figures, a Michigan Supreme Court order that could finally settle the cannabis tax fight, a secret government memo that nobody wants you to read, and a road trip to New Buffalo that’s worth taking this May.

Big federal marijuana news last week.

Most Michigan stoners will barely notice.

But the story behind why is actually pretty interesting.

HEAVY HAUL: Michigan dispensaries sold more than $20 million worth of weed for the 420 holiday—up from $16 million last year when 420 landed on Easter and sort of killed the vibe.

TAX FIGHT: The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered an expedited look at the legality of Michigan’s 24% wholesale cannabis tax—a move that keeps the industry’s lawsuit alive and could finally settle the question of whether the tax was ever legal in the first place.

HIDDEN MEMO: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is blocking the release of an internal memo that could shed more light on the decision to implement a 24% wholesale tax on weed. The Detroit News tried to obtain the document under the Freedom of Information Act and got back a heavily redacted version with all the actual analysis about industry impact stripped out.

CALIFORNIA SOBER: Michigan liquor sales dropped by more than $100 million last year, and cannabis is getting some of the credit. Industry insiders cited a mix of inflation, changing social habits, and a growing number of Michiganders swapping cocktails for gummies and joints.

FATAL ROBBERY: Four Ohio men were convicted in connection with the murder of a Pontiac cannabis business owner. Prosecutors say the suspects met the victim, Sam Simko, at a cannabis festival in Ann Arbor and devised a fake business deal to stage a deadly robbery.

PUFF DISMISSED: A judge threw out Puff Cannabis’ longstanding lawsuit against the city of Menominee, ruling that the company had essentially signed away its right to sue when it filed its license application paperwork. For months, Puff has been trying to force its way into a local market that voters decided to cap at nine dispensaries. The company can still file an appeal.

SPRING PICKS: The Detroit Metro Times recently put together a spring cannabis guide worth bookmarking—including flower, rosin, drinks, edibles, and more. Regular readers of The MichiGanja Report will recognize a few of the brands. Consider this a second opinion.

COOLER CONSPIRACY: It turns out most of the cannabis drinks being sold at Michigan dispensaries all come from the same place. In case you missed last week’s MichiGanja Report, I bought five different brands for a taste test and traced them all to a single facility in Mt. Clemens. Some of them were worth buying. Some of them were not. I ranked all five.

Last week, I asked what effect you’re usually chasing when you consume cannabis. Euphoria won by a wide margin—followed by relief, relaxation, focus, creativity, and sleep.

I’ll be honest: I almost left euphoria off the list. It’s the vaguest option up there—the kind of word that means something different to everyone who picks it. One person’s euphoria is another person’s Tuesday night on the couch. It’s not really a measurable effect so much as a vibe.

Still, somehow the least specific answer on the list generated the most consensus.

This week, I’m curious about something more basic:

How frequently do you consume cannabis?

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

May is shaping up to be a pretty good month to take a road trip to New Buffalo.

Rolling Embers, the tribal-owned dispensary that operates under its own tribal cannabis regulations, is hosting “Baked Bingo” from 1-4 p.m. on May 3, 17, and 31.

And even if you don’t like bingo, the outdoor lounge is worth the trip on its own. 

It’s one of the only places in Michigan where you can legally smoke what you just bought. And with fire pits, TVs, and a full outdoor dab bar when the weather cooperates, it’s a genuinely different experience from anything else the state’s cannabis market has to offer right now.

Jeeter has one of the biggest followings in Michigan’s cannabis market, and I’ve never fully understood why. Most of their products tend to taste like cotton candy, masking the true flavor of cannabis. But a lot of you seem to love them. And that’s fine. This one is for you.

The brand is bringing its “Mile High Club Tour” to House of Dank in Monroe from 4:20-7:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. It’s an airport-themed pop-up and photo booth with discounts on all Jeeter products, limited “Mile High Club” boxes, and other freebies for those willing to line up early. 

I won’t be there. But I have a feeling a lot of you will.

I’ve been wandering around Michigan’s woods for years looking for morel mushrooms.

Last weekend, I finally found some.

I’m not sharing the location. But I will say I found at least two dozen, brought them home, and fried them all up with butter and garlic. And the years of failure made them taste even better. 

To help me hunt, I had a Gelonade all-in-one live resin vape from Grown Rogue. 

This is easily one of my favorite disposable pens on the market right now. It actually tastes like the strain it’s supposed to be, it got me completely stoned out in the middle of the woods, and it clocked in at an 11% terpene content—the highest number I’ve ever seen on a vape cart.

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.