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Federal Marijuana Shift Targets Medical Use Only—Michigan’s $3B Recreational Market Largely Unchanged

Federal Marijuana Shift Targets Medical Use Only—Michigan’s $3B Recreational Market Largely Unchanged

WASHINGTON DC - A major federal marijuana policy shift announced April 23 is much narrower than our earlier headlines suggested—and for Michigan’s $3 billion recreational cannabis market, the immediate impact is very limited. The U.S. Department of Justice, working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, has moved to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-23T15:37:00-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Raising Wages Isn’t Working—Here’s What Michigan Retailers Are Doing Instead

Raising Wages Isn’t Working—Here’s What Michigan Retailers Are Doing Instead

DETROIT - Michigan retailers don’t have a hiring problem. They have a retention problem. Hiring is expensive. Turnover is what’s killing margins. Across Southeast Michigan, employers say they can find workers—but keeping them is a constant struggle. Employees leave within weeks or months, forcing businesses into a cycle of hiring, training, and starting over. More

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-22T09:34:13-04:00April 22nd, 2026|Featured, New Products, New Products / Contracts|

$166B Tariff Refund Wave Begins—Michigan Manufacturers, Auto Suppliers Could See Windfall

$166B Tariff Refund Wave Begins—Michigan Manufacturers, Auto Suppliers Could See Windfall

Freight trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, one of the busiest U.S.-Canada trade corridors. Michigan companies tied to global supply chains are among those affected by the $166 billion tariff refund program. PHOTO CREDIT: The Fulcrum DETROIT - Michigan manufacturers and auto suppliers could soon see a significant financial boost as the

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-21T11:18:39-04:00April 21st, 2026|Auto Tech, Featured, Government/Politics, News|

Who Pays to Fix Michigan’s Dams? The Answer May Be No One — At Least Not Yet

Who Pays to Fix Michigan’s Dams? The Answer May Be No One — At Least Not Yet

The 2020 Midland dam failures exposed the financial reality of Michigan’s aging infrastructure: when dams fail, the cost doesn’t disappear — it multiplies. MIDLAND - If Michigan has entered a new era of dam risk, it has also entered a new era of dam math. And right now, the numbers do not work. In Part

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-21T10:53:47-04:00April 21st, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, News, Politics, Politics/Government|

Michigan Cannabis Tax Deadline Collides With 4/20 as Industry Faces Mounting Pressure

Michigan Cannabis Tax Deadline Collides With 4/20 as Industry Faces Mounting Pressure

LANSING — April 20 is typically a day of celebration for the cannabis industry. But in Michigan this year, 4/20 also comes with a financial reality check. The unofficial cannabis holiday falls on the same day as a key state tax deadline, forcing marijuana operators to balance one of their busiest retail days with one

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-20T13:43:13-04:00April 20th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Aging Dams, Rising Risk: Michigan Faces Growing Flood Threat

Aging Dams, Rising Risk: Michigan Faces Growing Flood Threat

Floodwaters from the Muskegon River inundate park infrastructure downstream of Croton Dam on April 16, as heavy rainfall and snowmelt pushed river levels well above flood stage and triggered evacuation orders in parts of Newaygo County. Photo Credit: Benzie Record NEWAYGO - A near-miss flooding event in northern Michigan is raising fresh concerns about the

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-20T10:19:34-04:00April 20th, 2026|Featured, News|

Who’s Winning—and Losing—in Michigan’s Cannabis Market

Who’s Winning—and Losing—in Michigan’s Cannabis Market

This is Part 3 of our ongoing series on Michigan’s cannabis market transformation. ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry posted a sales rebound in March, but behind the headline numbers, a deeper shift is underway. This is no longer a growth story. It’s a survival story. Following strong early expansion after legalization, the market has

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-15T12:35:52-04:00April 15th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

What It Takes to Survive in Michigan’s Cannabis Market

What It Takes to Survive in Michigan’s Cannabis Market

ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry is still growing—but it’s no longer easy. While total sales remain strong, falling prices and intense competition are forcing businesses across the state to rethink how they operate. For many, success now depends less on being early to the market—and more on how effectively they adapt to a more

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-15T12:36:24-04:00April 13th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Michigan Cannabis Shakeout: Falling Prices Are Reshaping the Market

Michigan Cannabis Shakeout: Falling Prices Are Reshaping the Market

ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry continues to sell more product—but at lower prices. That dynamic is beginning to reshape the competitive landscape, as operators across the state adjust to a market defined less by rapid growth and more by price compression, efficiency, and differentiation. Data from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency shows that while

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-15T12:36:41-04:00April 11th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Michigan Retail Owners: If You’re Constantly Rehiring, This May Be Why

Michigan Retail Owners: If You’re Constantly Rehiring, This May Be Why

ANN ARBOR — If you run a retail business in Michigan, you already know the cycle: You hire someone.You train them.They leave. And you’re right back where you started. Again. This isn’t just frustrating—it’s quietly draining your business every single month. The Real Problem Isn’t Just Wages Most retail owners assume turnover comes down to

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-01T13:35:39-04:00April 1st, 2026|Featured, New Products, New Products / Contracts|