MICHIGAN—New year, same weed drama.
Between panic buying ahead of a new statewide wholesale tax, layoffs hitting the Upper Peninsula, and a court fight that’s still far from over, 2026 is already coming in hot.
Here are seven quick hits of Michigan cannabis news to get you caught up:
PANIC BUYING: Michigan dispensaries tracked an increase in customers ahead of the New Year—namely from shoppers who had feared prices would immediately climb as a result of the state’s new 24% wholesale tax on weed that officially took effect on Jan. 1.
LAYOFF LANDS: C3 Industries is reportedly shutting down its Webberville grow operation, cutting more than 60 workers, and Higher Love is laying off about 60 employees in the Upper Peninsula. Industry leaders, including officials at C3, have pointed blame at the state’s new wholesale tax, which is expected to dent profit margins in an already-competitive market.
TAX FIGHT: A judge has OK’d a legal challenge to Michigan’s new wholesale weed tax, keeping alive industry claims that the newly implemented tax violates the spirit of voter-approved cannabis laws. The tax will stay in place as the lawsuit continues with a hearing on Jan. 13.
VIBES FOR VETS: Wayne State University is recruiting Michigan veterans with PTSD for a new, state-funded clinical trial studying whether using cannabis can actually make a difference. It’s called the Warrior C.A.R.E. program. Applications can be submitted online—right here.
FRESH PICKS: Detroit Metro Times is kicking the new year off the right way—with a new, no-nonsense guide to the best weed and live rosin on the shelves at Michigan dispensaries.
FIND OUT: A member of a crew that ripped off multiple Michigan dispensaries is reportedly heading to prison after getting busted with stolen weed and a very clear paper trail.
VOTER ALERT: Serenity Hope Sallak, a Democratic candidate who is running for a seat in the state Senate, voiced her support for Michigan’s 24% wholesale tax in a recent interview with Midland Daily News—though she thinks the state should “cap” cannabis taxes from here on out.
READ MORE: 8 cannabis-infused drinks to help Michiganders survive Dry January
Want more cannabis news delivered right to your inbox? Click here to sign up for The MichiGanja Report—our free weekly newsletter about all things marijuana.
