Some weed brands spend way more on marketing than on growing. This week, I met a Detroit crew that’s doing the total opposite. And if Runtz is your thing, they might be your new favorite.

Plus, a Michigan company got caught shipping dirt instead of weed, Muha Meds lost another license, a pot farm in Iosco County drained 16 acres of wetlands, House of Dank is throwing itself a birthday party, and 710 Labs is out with new five-packs of joints—noodles included.

Roll one up and scroll. 

A few weeks ago, I smoked a pre-roll with a cartoon Godzilla on the label and complained in this newsletter that I couldn’t find a single thing about the people who grew it.

So, I bought four more bags from the same company and kept digging.

What I found was a five-person crew in Southwest Detroit. They spent a decade as caregivers dodging robberies, run-ins with the cops, and worse before taking over a no-name wholesale grow and turning it into one of the most promising new brands in Michigan.

They’re also really, really good at growing Runtz. Maybe a little too good.

DIRTY DEEDS: State regulators revoked 20 cannabis cultivation licenses and issued a whopping $2 million fine against a Michigan company that once billed itself as the state’s largest woman-owned weed business. Regulators say the company shipped several packages to a processor that were labeled as marijuana but actually contained “dirt and mulch.”

MUHA PROBLEMS: State regulators revoked the license for Muha Meds‘ Ypsilanti dispensary and fined it more than $250,000, marking the latest hit in a rough month for the popular vape brand. Regulators say the store used a fake customer profile to illegally sell products.

DRAIN GAME: A judge ruled that Bliss Cannabis illegally destroyed 16 acres of protected wetlands in Iosco County to build a weed farm. State officials say the company started clearcutting, draining, and filling the land in 2022, then kept right on going through two years of violation notices and in-person meetings telling it to stop. Penalties will be decided next month.

PAYING IT FORWARD: Bay City commissioners are set to approve $150,000 in local weed tax revenue to keep an overnight homeless drop-in center open for another year. The center offers beds, meals, showers, and laundry, and has served more than 250 people since it opened.

ICYMI: If you missed last week’s newsletter, I rounded up six seasonal cannabis products worth hunting down before Halloween. My favorite spooky season gimmick so far this year? New pre-rolls from Voodoo that look like something you’d smoke at a funeral.

Last week, I asked how you feel about outdoor-grown weed since Croptober is here and this year’s outdoor harvest is about to start hitting dispensary shelves.

The most popular answer, from about 35% of you, was that you’ve never even checked. “Outdoor is underrated” and “it depends who grew it” landed in a near-tie for second place.

Only about 10% of you said you never buy anything grown outdoors.

So, I guess that makes me the snob here. I’m with the indoor-only crowd. But it’s been a soggy year, and nobody’s expecting a banner harvest, so this might be a good time to join me.

This week, let’s take inventory.

How many strains are in your stash right now?

Go count your jars. I’ll have the results next week.

I have a giant bag in my basement that’s filled with empty pre-roll tubes.

I don’t know why I’m saving them. I’m not proud of it. My wife is even less proud of it.

So I was happy to hear that 710 Labs, one of the most respected names in Michigan weed, is now selling its pre-rolls by the five-pack—which means four fewer tubes in my insane collection. Each “travel case” comes with five, hand-rolled, all-flower “doinks” at 0.75 grams a piece. 

And yes, the filter tips are still literal rotini noodles.

Three strains are coming out first: Date Night, Banana Rickscotti, and my personal favorite, LMNO-Z. Look for them at House of Dank and about a dozen other stores.

Seriously, though: What do I do with all these tubes? If you’ve got an art project, a craft idea, or a good recycling tip, shoot me an email. I’m open to suggestions.

Five years doesn’t sound like much. But in Michigan’s weed market, it’s practically a lifetime.

House of Dank in Ypsilanti is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Oct. 10 with a party that runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’ll be music from DJ Chrome, food from A2 Eatery, brand pop-ups handing out free stuff, games, giveaways, and a goodie bag for every customer.

If your stash needs a refill, mark your calendar. Dispensaries usually roll out their best deals at these types of parties—nobody likes to serve shitty cake for their own birthday.

I’ve written before that House of Dank is one of the few chains in this state that gets both value and variety right. Five years in this market suggests I’m not the only one who noticed.

Happy birthday, House of Dank.

My wife spent Saturday running a pottery event for ArtPrize in downtown Grand Rapids. I stopped by to check it out, but I took the long way there.

I grabbed a pre-roll from Flower of Life, parked at a trailhead in Byron Center, and cruised into the city on my electric unicycle. It looks as dorky as it sounds, but I’ve made peace with it.

Flower of Life is based in Flint. They grow in organic living soil, they’re constantly hunting down new genetics, and I’ve never had a bad smoke from them—especially in pre-rolled form.

This one was Lemon Cherry Fire, a cross of Lemon Cherry Gelato and Zerbert. It was sweet, lemony, fruity, and creamy. It was also heavy on limonene, with a little pinene and a touch of terpineol—a floral terpene that smells a bit like lilac with some pine underneath.

How do I know all that? Because Flower of Life prints the terpenes right on the label. 

Hallelujah. More of this, please.

The high was summery, energetic, and blissful—and a perfect match for the ride. I grabbed lunch from a food truck, checked in on my wife, and took the scenic way back.

That trail is gorgeous this time of year. I’m also pretty sure it was one of my last chances to ride before the unicycle goes back into hibernation, and I have to get places the boring way again.

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.