Michigan

Michael Thompson, a nonviolent drug offender who is currently serving a prison sentence of 40-60 years for selling cannabis, has been hospitalized with COVID-19.

Killer Mike and El-P, the rappers known collectively as Run the Jewels, have partnered with cannabis companies Cookies and Lemonnade to provide their first branded cannabis strain, Ooh Lala.

Lume Cannabis Company in Michigan has partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to open a new retail cannabis dispensary on tribal lands.

Plans for a cannabis-friendly campground in Michigan have been shut down by officials as a safety threat because the proposed space currently lacks “sanitary or potable water facilities.”

An update to Michigan’s cannabis industry regulations will no longer require operators in the space to maintain labor peace agreements, which are meant to protect the industry and its workers.

Michael Thompson was arrested for selling cannabis in 1994; he was given a de-facto life sentence in prison and now COVID-19 is poised to upgrade that to a death sentence unless Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer does the right thing.

Records show that adult-use cannabis sales in Michigan have reached at least $7 million per week over the last month; the industry has been deemed essential during the pandemic but in-person sales are prohibited.

Less than a month after allowing cannabis caregivers to transfer their supply to the adult-use market, Michigan regulators have backtracked on that decision and say they will not authorize any additional transfers.

While many states have chosen to let dispensaries stay open during the coronavirus crisis, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has announced the shutdown of adult-use sales.

Under federal law, any consumer of cannabis cannot own or possess firearms; a recent ATF memo, however, seeks to strengthen those restrictions specifically against “habitual marijuana users.”

Medical cannabis caregivers in Michigan will lose the ability to transfer or sell products to licensed cannabis growers and/or processors on September 30.

Weedmaps is no longer allowing unlicensed Michigan cannabis businesses to list or advertise on its platform.

Michigan regulators have issued cannabis product delivery licenses to three different businesses.

Lab tests revealed high levels of vitamin e acetate in several Michigan market vape products, prompting a recall; the compound was linked by the CDC to a pulmonary injury illness that has sickened more than 2,400 and led to 52 deaths.

Michigan adult-use cannabis sales are set to begin this weekend on Sunday, December 1 — about 80% of the state’s municipalities, however, have passed local bans on industry operations.

Michigan regulators have declared a temporary ban on cannabis vaporizer products sold at dispensaries; officials also permanently banned the use of vitamin E acetate as a cutting agent in cannabis products.

Detroit has joined the 79% of Michigan municipalities to opt-out of the adult-use cannabis industry, in return forfeiting their share of the state’s 10% excise tax imposed on adult-use sales.

Michigan regulators will begin accepting business license applications starting this Friday, November 1st.

Medical cannabis company Primitive, co-owned by former Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson and Rob Sims, announced a partnership with Harvard University to research medical cannabis as a treatment for CTE.

Michigan’s cannabis regulators have announced a plan to cut fees on cannabusinesses in 19 municipalities that were disproportionately affected by the plant’s prohibition, as per the legalization initiative approved by voters in 2016.

Emergency rules laying out adult-use cannabis regulations in Michigan have been released; under the new rules, delivery is allowed and adult-use business licenses will be cheaper and easier to acquire than medical cannabis licenses.

Only about half of Ohio’s registered medical cannabis patients have made a purchase at a state dispensary, with most patients saying they are deterred by high prices. In fact, for many patients, it’s cheaper to drive to a dispensary in Michigan.

Michigan companies in Detroit and Portage have received the state’s first cannabis delivery licenses. Delivery services, however, will only be available to patients who live in municipalities where cannabis sales are generally outlawed.