Fellow Michigander,

Michigan’s cannabis scene never really sits still for long. 

This past week brought a looming state Supreme Court case involving rules for stoners on probation, continued confusion surrounding the state’s new wholesale cannabis tax, and a few dispensaries that are offering goodie bags to earlybirds willing to wait in line.

Meanwhile, I also spent some quality time digging into two strains from Local Grove that reminded me what properly grown and cured flower is actually supposed to taste like.

Let’s get into it. 

Michigan’s cannabis market has something of a freshness problem. But two strains from Local Grove prove that affordable, high-quality weed is still out there—if you know where to look.

PUFF ON PROBATION: The Michigan Supreme Court is deciding whether judges can still ban cannabis use for people on probation even though weed has been legal since 2018. A ruling is expected by July and could set a statewide precedent for all future court-ordered supervision.

TAX TANGLE: Michigan’s controversial 24% wholesale weed tax is already causing headaches—and nobody seems entirely sure when businesses are supposed to start paying it.

CHEAP WEED: Despite fears that Michigan’s new 24% wholesale cannabis tax would drive up prices, bargain hunters from Illinois are still flocking to New Buffalo for cheap weed. A recent Axios price check found some products selling for half the price of similar items in Chicago.

MARKET SHAKEOUT: Michigan’s once-booming cannabis industry is starting to thin out. State data show the number of active cannabis business licenses dropped to about 2,200 in 2025, down by 85 from the year before—the first annual decline since adult-use sales began in 2019.

LESS GREEN: Michigan cities and townships are still cashing in on legal weed, but the checks are getting smaller. The state distributed about $94 million in cannabis tax revenue from 2025 sales, down from nearly $100 million in 2024 as sales slow and prices continue to plummet.

BY THE NUMBERS: Michiganders dropped $3 billion on recreational weed in 2025, but a new MLive data tracker shows some regions spent a lot more than others. The highest per-person spending tracked last year was across a 30-county region of the Upper Peninsula—namely because of its proximity to the border of Wisconsin, where recreational weed is still illegal.

HOT WATER: Former Monroe County Commissioner Mark Brant is back in legal trouble over weed—this time for allegedly violating a township ordinance that bans marijuana businesses. The alleged civil infraction reportedly carries a $150 fine, with a hearing set for March 24.

PONTIAC POT: After years of delays, legal weed sales have finally arrived in Pontiac. The city’s first dispensary, Kulture 81, is now open downtown. And it may not be alone for long. City officials say several more dispensaries are actively working through the licensing process. 

DILL WITH IT: In case you missed last week’s MichiGanja Report, the Vlasic pickle family is now in the weed business. Willy Vlasic—the great-grandson of the man who built the famous Detroit pickle brand—is selling CBD products in roughly 200 Michigan dispensaries.

This week, I’m trying out something new: a quick weekly poll about whatever weird, interesting, or mildly ridiculous thing happens to be going on in Michigan’s cannabis world. 

This week’s topic comes courtesy of state regulators, who recently reminded dispensaries across Michigan that they technically aren’t supposed to call themselves “dispensaries.”

So, I’m curious:

If we’re not supposed to call them dispensaries, what should we call them instead?

Stay tuned. I’ll share the results in next week’s newsletter.

Most Michiganders shopping for weed tend to zero in on one number: THC percentage. 

The higher the number, the stronger the weed. Right?

Well, not exactly.

In his latest column, Dr. Evan Litinas breaks down why two Michigan cannabis products with the exact same THC percentages can still produce completely different highs. 

Maybe don’t share this news with New Buffalo.

But the once-quiet little border beach town is getting yet another dispensary.

Mango Cannabis Co. is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location on March 28 with a full day of music, food trucks, and giveaways at the store just off Exit 4. 

The event will also include free goodie bags for the first 420 customers who spend at least $65. 

And it’s my sincere hope that Michiganders are the ones lined up to grab those deals before the usual out-of-state traffic from Indiana figures out what’s happening next weekend.

Free weed alert for earlybirds this Friday:

Arborside in Ann Arbor and North Coast Provisions in both Adrian and Sault Ste. Marie are handing out 25 goodie bags at each store as part of a Customer Appreciation Day special.

The deal is simple. Just show up early, sign up for the dispensary’s free online loyalty program, spend at least $50, and walk out with a big bag of cannabis products worth at least $100. 

The only real catch is getting there in time. Doors open at 8 a.m. in Adrian and 9 a.m. in Ann Arbor and Sault Ste. Marie. And with only 25 bags available per location, it’s probably wise to arrive at least an hour before the store opens if you want a real shot at getting one.

Michigan is doing that classic late-March fake-out right now. 

One day it looks like spring. The next day it’s snowing again.

But for a very brief moment last week, I happened to catch Grand Traverse Bay right in the sweet spot—with blue water, a sandy shoreline, not a single person in sight, and just enough sunshine to justify lighting up a Glitter Bomb pre-roll from Goldkine on the beach.

Goldkine is firmly in the reliable budget lane of Michigan weed. These aren’t the joints you break out to impress the biggest weed snobs in your friend group. But if you want something simple, affordable, and consistent that’ll usually get the job done? They fit the bill just fine.

Glitter Bomb delivered a mellow, easygoing buzz that paired nicely with the sunshine and quiet shoreline stroll. And for a brief moment there, it actually felt like spring might be here.

Of course, winter rolled in again this week. Because this is Michigan and we can’t have nice things for long. But give it another couple weeks. This beach will be a whole different scene.

420 is coming! If you or your company want to showcase your products or services to an engaged audience of more than 19,000 cannabis enthusiasts, contact kimberly@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.