Fellow Michigander,

This week’s newsletter isn’t exactly light reading, but it’s something every stoner should probably know. Because behind our dispensary shelves are Michigan workers who are facing real health risks most of us have never heard about, and new research is laying it all out.

Also in this week’s edition: the latest on the 24% wholesale tax showdown, holiday sales trends, a warning for expectant parents from Michigan Medicine, fresh advice on how Michiganders can use cannabis to manage chronic pain, and one of the wildest dispensary giveaways of the year.

Spark something and keep scrolling,

You probably don’t think much about the people who trim and package your weed. But a new study recently uncovered something that most stoners never hear about: Our cannabis workers are developing asthma from their jobs. And a few cases have already turned deadly.

Want to know what’s really happening behind the scenes? It’s this week’s top story. 

TAX TIME: A judge is set to decide whether to freeze Michigan’s new 24% wholesale tax on weed before it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Industry advocates are leading the lawsuit, arguing the tax is unconstitutional and could push more people to the illicit market. And while a ruling is coming soon, this one will likely get pushed all the way up to the Michigan Supreme Court.

FREE THE WEED: Rumors are swirling that President Donald Trump could move to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III substance before next year’s midterms, with sources claiming the decision is basically already made. The move could offer real tax relief for cannabis companies.

HOLIDAY HAZE: Michigan dispensaries say the winter holidays are shaping up to be their Super Bowl. And after last week’s Green Wednesday and Black Friday blitz, stores are banking on more festive deals in December to keep the surge going before state taxes climb in 2026.

PREGNANCY PRECAUTION: Michigan Medicine is warning Michiganders that weed and pregnancy don’t mix. Doctors there say THC can cross the placenta, linger in breast milk, and raise health risks for newborns. And they’re urging expectant stoner parents to hit pause.

SEVEN FELONIES: A 48-year-old Holland man is facing criminal charges after the Michigan Attorney General’s office said he skipped out on taxes for $1.1 million in unlicensed weed sales, plus scammed someone out of $95,000 by selling them a Corvette without a valid title.

STOCKING STUFFERS: City Pulse dropped its annual cannabis gift guide, and it’s packed with fun gadgets, flower, concentrates, and other budget-friendly gifts for the stoners in your life.

POT TO PAVILION: The city of Coldwater is reportedly putting its cannabis tax revenue to work, with city leaders approving a $747,000 makeover for Rotary Park—complete with a new pavilion and fishing dock. The best part? Nearly half the bill will be covered by future marijuana taxes. 

THE NAUGHTY LIST: State regulators released their latest violation list for the month of October. High Profile’s Kalamazoo dispensary was reportedly fined for selling recalled products and Symponia Farms in Battle Creek was cited for growing untagged plants.

Chronic pain is one of the top reasons Michiganders turn to cannabis. But choosing how much to take—and how to take it—has always been one of the trickiest parts of the process. 

This week, Dr. Evan Litinas is breaking down the latest scientific consensus that could finally help make sense of it all. And whether you’re brand new to medical cannabis or just trying to fine-tune what already works for you, this week’s column is worth keeping in your back pocket.

Got a question about weed? Send it in here, and Dr. Litinas will find you an answer.

I found a few gems while wandering the floor of The Exchange earlier this year. And I’m not just talking about the free lanyards or the tiny branded grinders that everyone likes to pass out.

The brand is Frosted Farms, a small Michigan grow team that’s clearly in this for the craft, not the corporate chase. I met the guys behind it, and they were super down-to-earth and obsessive about their strains. Plus, they talked my ear off for 20 minutes about their cultivation techniques.

And honestly? Their flower backs it up. 

I’ve now sampled a handful of their products and haven’t hit a single dud.

The only catch: Frosted Farms is still a relatively tiny operation and you’ll probably have to scout around a bit to find them. My latest haul came from The Botanical Co. in Lansing, and it was well worth the hunt. Because in a sea of mass-produced mids, Frosted Farms is doing something relatively rare: growing fire, growing intentionally, and not cutting corners.

If you manage to snag a bag at your local dispensary please let me know what you think. I’m curious if your experience lines up with mine or if I just caught an especially good harvest. 

I’m not telling you to make an unnecessary dispensary run this week.

I’m just saying House of Dank is giving away a whole-ass car on Friday. 

Here’s the deal: Through Friday, every time you spend $20 or more (before tax) on select brands at any House of Dank location, you’ll get one automatic entry per day into their High Ride Giveaway. The prize? A 2025 Chevy Equinox Sport EV, valued at just under $34,000.

The participating brands are Jeeter, Element, MKX, Midwest Extracts, Pressure Pack, North Coast, Zoot, and Top Smoke. And the entry rules are pretty simple: sign up for loyalty rewards, opt into promotional texts, and buy weed from any of the brand’s 14 dispensaries statewide.

Will you actually win the EV? Probably not. But if you were planning to restock anyway, this is one of the wildest dispensary promotions sitting in my inbox this week, and it ends fast.

Some quests are noble. Some are chaotic. And some are just about getting your hands on four tiny cheeseburgers before your munchies convince you to start gnawing on your seatbelt. 

Last week, mine was the third kind.

The destination was White Castle in Howell—the closest one to Lansing and the unofficial finish line for those Harold-and-Kumar-style cravings that hit me once every couple of months.

My appetizer? A Hy-R Orange Pineapple joint from Goldkine, which burned like a tropical Capri Sun for adults with bright, tangy citrus notes and a little bit of candy sweetness. Afterward, I ordered my usual: four cheeseburgers with everything and a small order of chicken rings. 

It’s the kind of meal that always tastes better when you’re stoned, so bring a designated driver. And no, this isn’t sponsored content for the best fast food cheeseburgers in Michigan. But if any White Castle executives are secretly reading this newsletter, well, my inbox is wide open. 

Got your own MichiGanja in the Wild moment to share? Send in your best Michigan-made cannabis product pics out in the world for a chance to be featured in next week’s edition.

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.