MICHIGAN—The cannabis headlines just keep coming, and this week’s latest batch is full of fresh developments, big debates, and other green-tinted twists from across the state.
Here’s a quick look:
MID-MICHIGAN MOOLAH: Cannabis tax revenue is stacking up in Michigan, and Mecosta County is reportedly putting it to work. With 12 cannabis businesses, the county pulled in a total of nearly $700,000 last year and is now using it to fund everything from fire department gear to road brining. Local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and Artworks have also seen a cut.
DELI DANK: Pleasantrees has been doubling down on its commitment to clean weed with a bold flex: They say they’ve never remediated a single gram—not once in five years. Their entire process is reportedly handled in-house, using live insects instead of pesticides and growing weed that actually passes safety tests without getting zapped, bleached, or radiated first.
BUST WITHOUT BARS: Four Chinese nationals were reportedly arrested in connection with a $5 million illegal grow operation in Michigan. But despite the scale, they might avoid prison time.
FAKE CARTS, REAL RISKS: A student-led investigation at Central Michigan University found that some vape cartridges sold in Michigan dispensaries are made with synthetic THC and harmful byproducts. The chemicals—some of which are corrosive—are often found in cheap carts, which means low-income consumers are getting hit the hardest. State regulators have hashed out new rules to ban synthetic conversion, but enforcement questions remain.
SUMMER SIPS: Lume recently dropped two new flavors of its cannabis-infused drink, BUZZN—raspberry lemonade and peach—just in time for summer. Each can has 7.5mg of THC, with real fruit juice and no weird sweeteners. Keep an eye on the online menu. Lume says demand has been so high that dispensaries are regularly selling out of weekly shipments.
READ MORE: 6 killer cannabis products to fuel your Michigan summer
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