There’s a grow operation in Muskegon that won’t put a strain on the shelf until a group of senior stoners confirms it tastes the same way it did in 1978. I went in skeptical—and came out finally understanding why my uncle won’t shut up about the weed he smoked before I was born.

Keep scrolling for the full story. 

Plus, I’m giving away tickets to the Best in Grass awards show, one Michigan dispensary is fighting a Flock camera with a lawn sign, another one got fined $8,000 because its own cameras weren’t running, and there’s a fresh deal of the week waiting for you in Ann Arbor.

Twist one up and let’s get nostalgic.

Every Michigan stoner over 60 has the same speech, and I’ve sat through it a hundred times. Weed was better back then. You kids don’t know. We had Panama Red.

I never bought it. These are the same folks who insist Coke tastes better out of a glass bottle.

But last month, I spent an afternoon inside an old warehouse in downtown Muskegon, smoked an ounce of Maui Wowie, and realized I owed my uncle a sincere apology.

FLOCK OFF: After a Flock license plate reader turned up near a JARS dispensary in Madison Heights, staff there reportedly planted a sign reading “No Flock Zone” directly in front of the camera to block its view. Officials at JARS didn’t return an email seeking more information.

BLIND SPOT: State regulators fined Mint Cannabis in Coldwater $8,000 after they discovered the store’s surveillance system was offline for 34 days. The company blamed a technical malfunction and has since implemented new procedures to prevent future recording failures.

SHAKE DOWN: A Coldwater Township man will reportedly stand trial after a May raid at his home allegedly turned up more than 500 pounds of marijuana shake and trim, plus 14 mason jars of high-potency wax from what police have described as a black market butane hash oil lab.

BAD NIGHT: State police say a 14-year-old from Battle Creek ran a red light in Calhoun County, striking a Kia Soul and leaving its 42-year-old driver with critical head injuries. Authorities don’t believe alcohol was involved, but they do suspect the kid was high on marijuana while driving. Let that be a reminder: Always keep your weed locked up and out of reach of the children in your house—and never operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of cannabis.

ICYMI: If you missed last week’s newsletter, I drove 40 minutes from Lansing to Owosso to track down Toad Venom—the Seed Junky strain that Michigan stoners won’t stop talking about this summer. It smelled like a rotting apple orchard and tasted like key lime pie.

Last week, I asked how far you’d be willing to drive for a good bag of weed. The results were split three ways. Up to 30 minutes, up to 60 minutes, and “across the state” were virtually tied.

About a dozen of you skip the dispensary entirely in favor of growing your own. And only five people—out of hundreds of responses—said they wouldn’t travel more than 10 minutes.

So the verdict is in, and it’s great news. This newsletter is mostly read by hardcore stoners, like me, who will absolutely burn through a full tank of gas just to find some quality bud. 

This week, we’re sticking with the classics.

What’s your favorite old-school strain? 

Cast your vote. I’ll have the results next week. 

Most of the decisions about what ends up on the shelf at your local dispensary get made months in advance, in a conference room, between people you’ll probably never meet.

One of those rooms is opening again in October.

The Exchange is a business-to-business cannabis meetup that’s returning to Michigan—this time in Shelby Township—on Oct. 21 and 22. Retailers, brands, and other industry insiders will be there swapping business cards, pitching products, and trying to lock in their next big deal.

It’s worth noting: This one isn’t for everyday stoners. Registration is limited only to licensed retailers and vendors. But if you own a dispensary or run a brand, this is the place to be. And the last two events sold out quickly, so I wouldn’t drag your feet with getting signed up. 

I went to the event in May and can confirm that just about every big name in the industry was there. It’s also the only cannabis event I’ve ever been to where nobody was visibly stoned.

While we’re talking about microbusinesses, here’s another one worth mentioning.

Winewood Organics in Ann Arbor operates on the same license type as IndiGrow: everything is grown, processed, and sold under the same roof—no middlemen involved. And like IndiGrow, they’ve built a reputation for giving every plant an obsessive level of attention.

I like to stop by this store every time I’m in Ann Arbor. And if you’ve never been, here’s a good reason to visit: the dispensary is currently offering 25% off for all first-time customers. 

Just do me a favor and don’t clear them out of Superboof before my next trip.

The best trips are the ones nobody plans.

Last Saturday, my wife and I decided after breakfast to drive about an hour north of Lansing and test our luck on a few slot machines, which is how I ended up in Mount Pleasant with this joint.

I went to college in this town, and I was dating my wife the first time we walked into Soaring Eagle about 15 years ago. Fifteen years later, we haven’t found too many new hobbies.

Our parking garage joint was from Michigander Fire—one of the few brands I can trust to pack their pre-rolls with full flower, no shake or trim. The strain was Zkittlez crossed with Animal Cookies. And the name is a pretty fair description of how it smokes: candy and tropical fruit up front, something heavier and doughier underneath, with a little pepper on the way out.

Of course, we didn’t win anything. But I got to pretend I was 22 again for a few hours with the same girl—which is a better return than the machines were ever going to give me anyway. 

I’ve got four pairs of tickets to the Best in Grass awards show on Aug. 13 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, and I’m handing them out the simplest way I know how: on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Email me at kyle@couriernewsroom.com with your name, and the first four eligible people to reach my inbox will each get a pair of tickets. (Limit one entry and one pair per person. I”ll reply by email to confirm if you’re one of the winners and let you know how you’ll receive your tickets.) 

A few things to know: You must be at least 21 years old to attend. I won’t check your ID, but someone at the door will. Tickets are non-transferable, have no cash value, and can’t be exchanged for cash or another prize. It’s also a suit-and-tie affair, so bring your finest cocktail attire and somebody worth wearing it with. 

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.