MICHIGAN—Hash Bash is back, weed taxes are stirring up fresh drama, and someone in Macomb County recently got busted with more than 1,000 pounds of illegal cannabis.
Michigan’s weed world doesn’t slow down. And this past week brought a little bit of everything, from policy fights and market swings to lawsuits and law enforcement crackdowns.
Here are eight quick hits to keep you caught up:
HASH CLASH: The University of Michigan is once again allowing Hash Bash to take over the Diag next month. But it comes with a warning for attendees: Marijuana is still banned on campus under federal law, meaning lighting up could technically land you with a ticket. But whether that actually ruins the vibe is another question. Organizers say the pushback could have the opposite effect—drawing out “OG activists” and energizing the crowd even more.
TAX REBOUND: Michigan’s weed market bounced back in February, pulling in $235 million in sales despite fears that the state’s new 24% wholesale tax would tank demand. Prices are still dirt cheap—hovering at about $60 an ounce—which may be keeping consumers buying even as businesses warn the tax could force layoffs, closures, and long-term damage to the industry.
BLACK MARKET BLUES: A top cannabis policy group is warning that states like Michigan are playing with fire by piling on new weed taxes. In a new op-ed, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano argues that higher prices won’t stop people from smoking—but will eventually push them back to the illicit market, undercutting legal businesses and the entire point of legalization.
OUT-OF-STATE CHEDDAR: Wisconsinites still haven’t legalized recreational weed, so Michigan dispensaries are happily collecting their cash—and Michigan cities are raking in the extra tax revenue that comes along with it, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
MENTAL MYTHS: Cannabis is widely used to treat anxiety, depression, and PTSD. But a major new study found little evidence that it actually works, reports Michigan Public. Researchers say the gap isn’t just about effectiveness; It’s about how little research has been done at all.
EQUITY DISPUTE: Six Michigan cannabis companies are suing Grand Rapids, alleging millions of dollars in social equity funds have gone missing, reports Crain’s Detroit Business. The lawsuit accuses city officials of mismanaging funds that businesses were forced to pay to stay licensed.
MAJOR BUST: More than 1,000 pounds of illegal cannabis products were seized in a Macomb County raid—along with 20,000 vape carts, guns, and cash—in what police are calling one of the largest drug busts in Shelby Township history. A 51-year-old man, Joseph Zouhair Foumia, was arrested and now faces multiple felony charges tied to the operation.
TERP TALK: In case you missed last week’s MichiGanja Report, Dr. Evan Litinas broke down why two weed products with the same THC percentage can feel completely different—and why Michiganders should start paying attention to terpenes instead of just chasing potency.
READ MORE: One man rolls thousands of joints to help crown Michigan’s best weed
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