In Roseville, Michigan, a significant transformation is underway as the dilapidated Roseville Inn, a site long associated with various community disturbances, is being demolished to make way for a new cannabis dispensary. This development marks a noteworthy change in the landscape of Groesbeck Highway, south of Common Road.
The Roseville Inn, now vacant, has been a center of numerous police and fire department interventions over the past three years. City Manager Ryan Monroe highlighted the frequent calls for service at the location, ranging from arguments and vagrancy to tenant evictions and requests for ambulance services. The local police department, under Chief Mitchell Berlin, has been particularly active at the site, addressing issues related to prostitution and narcotics trafficking.
The demolition of this two-story motel, which has seen significant deterioration over time, is a development that local authorities, including Chief Berlin, welcome. The replacement of the troubled motel with a new structure is seen as a positive step for the community.
The property, located at 29765 Roseville, was acquired in October for $1.85 million by a corporation of the same name. The purchase, facilitated by Mahendra Patel of Livonia, lists Hani Kassab Jr., a senior executive at Jars Cannabis, as the resident agent.
Jars Cannabis, the company behind the new dispensary, aims to have the facility operational by October, as indicated on their website. This initiative is part of a broader movement within Roseville, where the City Council granted recreational marijuana facility licenses to six companies in September. These companies, including Jars, are expected to establish their presence primarily in the Groesbeck Highway industrial corridor.
As part of their agreement with the city, these companies have committed to contributing positively to the community, including making charitable donations. This aspect of the agreement is overseen by Rob Huth, a Clinton Township-based attorney representing Jars. The company already has a presence in Macomb County, with dispensaries in Center Line and Mount Clemens, and another under construction in Chesterfield Township.
Ann Arbor has recently welcomed a new player in its cannabis market with the opening of Crave Cannabis. Located at 3860 Research Park Drive, the dispensary began operations in November and is already making strides with ambitious plans to introduce a marijuana consumption lounge to the city. This initiative follows the Ann Arbor Planning Commission's approval in September 2022 and the city's 2019 establishment of regulations permitting such lounges.
Michigan joins a growing list of over ten states in the U.S. that have legalized marijuana consumption lounges and cafes. These venues provide a legal public space for cannabis users, a significant step in the evolving landscape of marijuana use and culture.
Despite facing construction delays, Lamar Jarbo, the owner of Crave Cannabis, is optimistic about the lounge's opening in the coming months. He emphasizes the company's dedication to realizing this goal. The lounge is envisioned as a space where patrons can enjoy Crave Cannabis products in a relaxed environment. However, it's important to note that purchases of cannabis products will not be possible within the lounge itself.
Jarbo's vision for the lounge extends beyond just a space for relaxation and consumption. He plans to equip the lounge with multiple TV screens, some linked to PlayStations, a rentable podcast station, and even a golf simulator. The facility will also offer private rooms and lockers for personal storage, along with bongs and hookahs for use.
The lounge is not just envisioned as a chill-out spot but as a versatile venue suitable for private parties and events like comedy shows. Jarbo sees it as a place that can adapt to various social gatherings and entertainment needs.
The opening of the consumption lounge represents the second phase of Crave Cannabis's business plan. Since its inception, the dispensary has garnered attention for its extensive product range. Jarbo takes pride in the customer excitement generated by their diverse and potent product offerings, which include over 100 strains of cannabis flower, pre-rolls, topicals, concentrates, vaporizers, and edibles like THC-infused "potcorn."
Jarbo stresses the dispensary's commitment to offering unique and cutting-edge products. Crave Cannabis's District Manager, Philip Bunge, echoes this sentiment, highlighting their continuous search for new and high-quality items. To attract new customers, the dispensary currently offers a 50% discount for first-time visitors.
As Crave Cannabis evolves, Jarbo looks forward to deepening relationships with customers, especially with the introduction of the consumption lounge. He anticipates that the lounge will provide valuable insights into customer preferences and feedback, further shaping the dispensary's offerings and services.
The Michigan marijuana market experienced unprecedented growth in 2023, setting new sales records and significantly impacting state revenue. According to the latest data from Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), the state's legal marijuana retailers sold over $3 billion worth of cannabis products, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
In December alone, Michigan witnessed its strongest sales month ever, with licensed businesses achieving $279.9 million in total sales. This figure surpasses the previous monthly record of $276.7 million set in July. The cumulative sales for 2023, encompassing both adult-use and medical purchases, reached a staggering $3,057,161,285.85. This represents a substantial growth of about one-third more than the 2022 annual total of $2.29 billion.
The lion's share of 2023's sales came from recreational marijuana, which increasingly dominated the market as the year progressed. In December, adult-use retailers accounted for approximately 99 percent of all legal cannabis sales, totaling $276.7 million, while medical marijuana dispensaries contributed a mere $3.2 million.
Remarkably, the state's annual marijuana sales equate to about $305 per Michigan resident. It's important to note that this figure includes sales to non-resident customers. The 2023 sales figure even surpasses the gross domestic product of 51 countries, illustrating the massive scale of Michigan's cannabis market.
State officials highlighted a 49 percent increase in tax revenue from legal marijuana compared to the previous year, surpassing revenue generated from alcohol sales. Michigan's marijuana market benefits from one of the nation's lowest excise tax rates at 10 percent, in addition to a 6 percent state sales tax. In October 2023, marijuana excise tax alone generated $52.4 million in tax revenue.
Despite this remarkable growth, Michigan's annual marijuana sales have yet to reach the peak of $3.1 to $3.2 billion anticipated by some market analysts. Michigan's legal adult-use marijuana sales commenced in 2019 following voter approval in 2018.
Consumer preferences in December leaned heavily towards flower products, which constituted about 45 percent of total sales. Vape cartridges, inhalable concentrates, edibles, shake and trim, and other concentrates followed in popularity.
The state continues to see a steady influx of new business license applications, with 90 received and 71 approved in December alone. By the end of 2023, Michigan had 2,170 licensed cannabis businesses in the adult-use market, primarily growers, alongside 751 retailers, 250 processors, and other entities.
A survey of adult-use licensees revealed a plurality from high-income households, with 188 reporting annual incomes of $200,000 or more. In a significant move towards equity, the CRA launched a social equity grant program, allocating $1 million to support eligible marijuana businesses in education, business needs, or community reinvestment.
Interestingly, the average cost of marijuana in Michigan has remained at record lows, with an ounce of adult-use cannabis costing around $98, a significant decrease from $180 in December 2021. Additionally, policy changes have been implemented, including the end of pre-employment marijuana testing for most government employees and new laws facilitating trade between state-licensed marijuana businesses and tribal cannabis entities. Legislative efforts are also underway to legalize psychedelic plants and fungi for non-commercial purposes.
This growth trajectory of Michigan's marijuana market underscores the evolving landscape of cannabis sales and regulation, promising continued expansion and economic impact in the years to come.
Lucid Green, a platform specializing in item-level tracking for the cannabis industry, has formed a strategic partnership with Michigan-based cannabis company Common Citizen. This collaboration is set to introduce new educational tools aimed at both recreational and medical cannabis consumers in Michigan, leveraging advanced QR-style technology to improve access to product information.
The primary goal of this partnership is to enhance transparency in the cannabis supply chain, enabling consumers to access detailed information about products more easily. This initiative is expected to help consumers make more informed decisions, aligning with their individual preferences and values.
Both Lucid Green and Common Citizen emphasize the importance of immediate access to accurate product information for consumers. This new alliance underscores a shared focus on fostering trust and transparency within the cannabis industry.
Common Citizen, noted for its focus on product safety and customer experience, aligns with these objectives. Michael Elias, CEO of Common Citizen, commented on the collaboration: "Partnering with Lucid Green is a step towards emphasizing transparency in the cannabis industry. Our combined efforts are directed at helping consumers navigate the market more confidently, identifying products that meet their requirements."
Larry Levy, founder & CEO of Lucid Green, also spoke on the partnership: "Lucid Green's ethos centers around building trust through transparency. Working with Common Citizen, we are committed to providing consumers with precise information about cannabis products, which is crucial for informed decision-making."
The partnership extends to the LucidID app, offering users an interactive experience with products. For more details about this collaboration and to explore the Citizen product experience on the LucidID app, visit the following link: https://app.lucidgreen.io/products/bVwY3xSXbJ7viUzwJaqNfG/
New Buffalo Township, located near the Michigan-Indiana border, is on the verge of significantly expanding its marijuana dispensary presence. In a pivotal decision on Tuesday evening, the township's Planning Commission approved proposals for three new dispensaries along US 12, a key route leading to New Buffalo.
Currently, the region is served by a single dispensary within New Buffalo city limits and another on nearby native land, not under the jurisdiction of the city or township. The initiative to augment the area's dispensary count has been underway for approximately 18 months, with the recent approvals marking a crucial step towards realization.
The first of these new dispensaries, set to be established just past the Michigan-Indiana state line near Michigan City, is spearheaded by Native Leaf LLC. This provisioning center aims to operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., staffing five to six employees. The location, currently an unoccupied space, is expected to transform into a bustling center for marijuana retail.
A mere half-mile down the road, Bobeck Real Estate Company plans to open the second dispensary. This new establishment will join their portfolio of dispensaries, which includes Sunset Coast Provisions in Cassopolis. The company representative expressed that this addition is a natural extension of their growing business in the area.
Adjacent to this, Mitten State Engineering is set to renovate an existing building on Grand Avenue into a fully functional dispensary. This facility also plans to operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will employ a team of five.
Despite these approvals, the process is not yet finalized. The Tuesday night decision requires further confirmation, and the planning commission members indicated that it might be some time before these dispensaries begin operations. This development represents a significant expansion of marijuana retail options in the region, potentially enhancing accessibility for residents and visitors alike.
In a significant development in the cannabis industry, Stash Ventures, known for its notable brands including Timber Cannabis Co., High Minded, and High Minded Creations, has finalized the acquisition of Cloud Cannabis. This strategic move, to be completed on January 23rd, marks a major expansion for Stash Ventures in the cannabis market.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Cloud Cannabis will continue to operate under its current brand name. This decision ensures that the established market presence and consumer loyalty towards Cloud Cannabis remain intact, while Stash Ventures broadens its reach and strengthens its portfolio in the cannabis sector.
Stash Ventures' acquisition of Cloud Cannabis represents a pivotal step in their business strategy. By retaining the Cloud Cannabis brand, Stash Ventures acknowledges the value and recognition Cloud Cannabis has built with its customer base. This approach allows for a seamless transition and continuity in customer experience, which is crucial in the competitive cannabis market.
The acquisition is a clear indicator of the dynamic nature of the cannabis industry, where consolidation and strategic partnerships are becoming increasingly common. For Stash Ventures, owning Cloud Cannabis and its licenses provides an opportunity to diversify their offerings and reinforce their position in the market.
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, moves like this acquisition by Stash Ventures are expected to shape the future landscape of the market. Both companies bring unique strengths to the table, and their combined resources and expertise are poised to create a formidable presence in the cannabis sector.
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