Premier Cannabis Farms is leaning on old-school genetics and hands-on cultivation to deliver premium cannabis that stands apart in an increasingly crowded market.
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MICHIGAN—Every once in a while, I like to buy weed the same way some folks like to buy fancy bottles of bourbon. Not because it’s practical or a really good deal, but because it’s a treat, a small reward for myself after weeks of smoking bargain-bin bud.
Over the holidays, I picked up two ultra-premium strains from Lansing-based, family-owned Premier Cannabis Farms, also known as 517 Premier, for about $120 for a half-ounce. At that price, I expected this craft grower’s weed to change my life. And it kind of did.
Because 517 Premier’s flower isn’t the kind of marijuana that just looks pretty in a fancy jar. It smokes and tastes like someone lovingly cared for this plant from seed to harvest. And the result is the most potent, most unadulterated high I’ve had from Michigan-grown weed in years.
Lansing roots
The team at Premier Cannabis Farms has been growing weed for decades, from the pre-legalization era through the medical program and into the adult-use market in 2022. Their whole deal is craft cannabis treated with care—including watering and trimming by hand, never remediating their harvest, and a slow cure to ensure the buds are sticky and fresh.
This brand is clearly swinging for the top shelf on purpose. And whether you’re a terpene freak, a joint purist, or just fed up with weed that looks good and smokes like dried basil, that intention shows up the moment you light it. The jars even list what kind of music was played for the plants, which tells you exactly how deep into the craft rabbit hole this operation goes.
The company’s award haul includes first-place finishes in multiple Michigan Cannabis Cup categories and a Zalympix win for the gassiest flower in the state. But awards don’t mean much if the weed doesn’t hit. So, I did the only reasonable thing: I smoked it like it was my civic duty.
Strain #1: 517 Headband
This is the strain that, according to the brand, started it all for them—and it makes sense why. 517 Headband is a classic cross between OG Kush and Sour Diesel, which is basically a greatest-hits album for people who love loud, gassy, old school weed that goes hard.
The nose is straight-up incredible. Diesel and gas up front, with that sour-lemon bite and piney edge that makes you pause before you even grind it. It smells like old school weed with real personality—loud without being too perfumey, and sharp without smelling like chemicals.
And the buds? Ridiculous. Dense, frosty, and sculpted like they were grown for a photo shoot. 517 Premier packages their flower in small mylar-style jars. Opening one feels like cracking open a collectible. You almost want to admire it for a second before you ruin it with fire.
A few tokes is all it took for the classic headband effect to set in: pressure around the forehead, eyes heavy, brain pleasantly fogged, body relaxing in waves. And the potency here is no joke. I’m a veteran smoker, and I genuinely didn’t want to finish a full joint of this stuff by myself.
If you’re the type who loves OG-heavy strains, gassy diesel profiles, and that sleepy, shut-it-down energy after a nighttime bowl, 517 Headband is the only strain you’ll ever need.
Strain #2: Hippie Cologne
Hippie Cologne is an indica-leaning cross between Kush Mints and Dosido. And this is the kind of strain that earns compliments before it ever gets smoked—namely because it’s among the best smelling, prettiest weed I’ve ever encountered on the Michigan market.
It’s chocolatey and hashy, with a cookie-like richness and a minty undertone that keeps it from feeling too heavy or sweet. The aroma is immediately likable. The flavor carries through. And it has that “everybody in the circle agrees this is damn good weed” factor.
The effects came on smooth and steady, easing tension without knocking me flat. It’s relaxing, grounding, and mood-lifting. But the best part is probably the balance between having these two strains in your stash at once. Hippie Cologne still hits with a real dose of relaxation, but it doesn’t put me into the same half-conscious haze as 517 Headband. It’s a far more alert, social sort of high where I can still actually contribute to the conversation.
The bottom line
Premier Cannabis Farms isn’t a budget brand. At about $120 a half-ounce, this is special-occasion weed—the kind you buy when you want your cannabis to feel intentional again. It’s the kind of splurge that makes sense.
Both of these strains delivered the full premium cannabis experience, with strong aromas, gorgeous buds, a clean smoke, and effects that actually matched the hype—especially the 517 Headband, which genuinely humbled me in a way I did not expect to be humbled in 2026.
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READ MORE: 4 Michigan-grown cannabis strains that got me through the holidays
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