Fellow Michigander,

Spring is finally starting to show signs of life across Michigan—including some new dispensary openings and plenty of fresh headlines from the state’s ever-evolving weed scene.

This week’s edition has a little bit of everything: an old school hash review, a big party in Detroit, a good deal for Yoopers, and a joint-fueled backyard cleanup session with my dog Frank.

Let’s get into it.

Michigan’s dispensaries are going full throwback this year. Temple balls, hash coins, and other old-school cannabis concentrates your uncle still swears by are popping up on shelves.

So I grabbed two different versions from a Lansing dispensary and put them to the test to see how these classic stoner favorites hold up in the modern era. 

It’s this week’s top story.

TAX PAYOUTS: Michigan is sending nearly $94 million in marijuana tax revenue to local governments this year, which is slightly less than the nearly $100 million distributed last year. All told, each community will receive about $54,000 for every dispensary in their jurisdiction.

TAX WARNING: In a new op-ed published in Marijuana Moment, cannabis market analyst Hirsh Jain argues Michigan’s new 24% wholesale marijuana tax should serve as a warning for the rest of the country. Jain says Michigan built a strong legal cannabis market with relatively low taxes, but new taxes may now be undermining that success. Early signs, he writes, include falling sales, layoffs, and cultivation shutdowns as companies scramble to absorb higher costs.

A NEW PLAN: State lawmakers have introduced a bill to repeal Michigan’s controversial 24% wholesale cannabis tax, arguing the new tax is unconstitutional and already hurting the state’s legal marijuana industry. The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association is backing the proposal.

WEED CITY BLUES: New Buffalo—an Indiana border town that could soon have nearly one dispensary for every 71 residents—is pumping the brakes on weed, with local officials reportedly weighing whether to revoke permits for several dispensaries over alleged state rule violations.

LUME LOOPHOLE: Lume is now operating multiple Michigan dispensaries on Native American tribal land in Northern Michigan, which has effectively allowed the company to sidestep local ordinances that prohibit other dispensaries from operating in the area, MLive reports.

BORDER BUD: C3 Industries, which recently closed down its cultivation facility in Webberville and laid off 62 workers, has opened another new High Profile Cannabis dispensary—this time in Luna Pier, which is set to primarily serve customers along the Michigan-Ohio border.

MICRO MOVES: Niles officials reportedly approved provisional licenses for three new cannabis microbusinesses—clearing the way for Cookies, Joyology, and Queen of Buds to open up shop. The licenses will allow for up to 300 plants to be grown on the property, along with retail sales.

House of Dank is throwing a big party for its newest dispensary in Detroit. 

The grand opening of its newest location on Gratiot Avenue is this Saturday, March 7. Expect the usual grand-opening chaos: exclusive deals, giveaways, food trucks, and a live DJ set from DJ Chrome, plus appearances from local Detroit rappers Icewear Vezzo and Peezy.

Doors open early at 9 a.m., and the first wave of customers will score curated goodie bags. Show up late and you’ll probably miss the swag, but the party will be rolling all day long.

Attention, Yoopers: 

If sleep has been hard to come by lately, The Fire Station might have something that helps.

This week, the Upper Peninsula dispensary chain is offering 20% off all CBN-infused edibles at all 10 of its Up North dispensaries—including locations in Hannahville, Houghton, Iron River, Ironwood, Ishpeming, Marquette, Menominee, Munising, Negaunee, and Sault Ste. Marie.

For the uninitiated, CBN (short for cannabinol) is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis. It’s often associated with more relaxing, sleep-friendly effects, which is why you’ll usually find it blended into nighttime gummies and other “bedtime” products.

So, if you’ve been tossing and turning lately—or just want an excuse to sleep in this weekend—it might be worth swinging by and grabbing a discounted pack while the deal lasts.

Spring is slowly arriving. And if you’re a dog owner, that means one thing: the great poop reveal.

After months of snow hiding Frank’s handiwork, my backyard has finally thawed out. And my full-time sidekick supervised the entire cleanup operation while I worked the scoop.

Luckily, I came prepared with a little morale boost: a pre-roll from Freight Train Canna.

I’m always on the hunt for solid multi-packs that aren’t stuffed with mystery trim. Freight Train has earned a spot in my regular rotation because their joints are always packed with real flower—and they smoke like it, too. Always a clean burn; never had a complaint.

The company was launched by a group of industry vets in 2021 without any outside investors. And their philosophy is simple: quality over quantity. It’s exactly the kind of dependable smoke I needed while tackling what might’ve been the worst spring chore of the year.

Frank seemed pleased with the results.

Do you or your company want to support The MichiGanja Report’s mission and showcase your products or services to an engaged audience of more than 15,000 cannabis enthusiasts at the same time? Contact advertise@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.