MICHIGAN—Weed taxes are under fire, labor unions are catching smoke, and the joints are still rolling. It’s been another busy stretch in Michigan cannabis, with legal battles heating up, politicians weighing in, and a few bright spots breaking through the noise.
Spark up and catch up:
TAX BATTLE: The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association filed a second lawsuit against the state Treasury, arguing Michigan’s new 24% wholesale cannabis tax effectively creates an illegal “tax on a tax” that is driving up prices beyond Michigan’s 6% sales tax cap.
GOOD COP: Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said he’d work to repeal Michigan’s 24% wholesale cannabis tax if elected—calling the policy “unfair” for the industry and warning it could push some consumers back to the illicit market.
UNION SMOKE: A new column in City Pulse is pulling back the curtain on a harsh reality in Michigan’s cannabis industry: when workers try to organize, companies often push back hard—even exploiting federal illegality as a loophole to sidestep basic labor protections.
UP NORTH PAYOUT: Several Upper Peninsula communities split more than $3.4 million in marijuana tax revenue from last year—part of a roughly $94 million statewide payout—with each licensed dispensary kicking back about $54,000 to local cities and townships.
MIDNIGHT MOVES: Northfield Township near Ann Arbor recently approved new rules extending cannabis delivery hours to midnight—giving local dispensaries some more breathing room after they reportedly ran into state violations. In-store sales will still end at 9 p.m.
SWEET SMOKE: Glacier Cannabis got some well-earned love for its take on Apple Tartz—a crowd favorite strain that blends Apple Fritter and Runtz into a terpene-packed knockout. According to Leafly, it’s as “sweet as apple pie and hits like a freight train.”
CREAM OF THE CROP: The Detroit Metro Times recently dropped a list of 15 cannabis brands that consistently deliver. It’s a well-curated roundup that includes some of my all-time favorite brands. And it’s a solid cheat sheet for anyone tired of rolling the dice at the dispensary.
ROLL MODEL: In case you missed last week’s MichiGanja Report, a new Michigan weed competition is ditching janky pre-rolls and putting one guy in charge of rolling every single joint. With just 300 judging boxes hitting dispensaries next month, expect this one to sell out fast.
READ MORE: Disposable vapes are everywhere in Michigan. Most of them kinda suck.
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