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VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

OFFICIAL TRADE JOURNAL OF THE MICHIGAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Wojo’s Mojo The Pinconning-based brand finds an award-winning formula in solventless hash and rosin

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CONTENTS VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

F E AT U R E S

14 THE HEART OF CANNABIS Calyxeum keeps quality products and underserved groups at the center of its mission By Paris Giles 18 HIGH SEASON Cannatourism is finding its place in Michigan’s summer travel economy By Becky Kalajian

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D E PA RT M E N T S 04 LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR By Robin Schneider 06 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By Kevin A. McKinney, MiCIA lobbyist 07 OPINION Cannabis businesses deserve to be treated as an important part of Michigan’s economy By Rep. Mike McFall 23 PERSPECTIVE Medical rescheduling opens doors for licensees, says Craig DeMarco of The Roots Insurance By Patrick Dunn 26 CANNABUSINESS Packaging companies experiment with new materials and designs to reduce waste By Wensdy Von Buskirk 28 CULTIVATION Managing pests and diseases in cannabis cultivation requires growers to stay proactive By Mike Lerchenfeldt 32 ICYMI This spring, industry members gathered for networking events made possible by the MiCIA

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18 28

COVER: PHOTO COURTESY OF WOJO CO. THIS PAGE: 8 COURTESY OF WOJO CO.; 14 COURTESY OF CALYXEUM; 18 BY KAREN KEKELIK; 28 COURTESY OF THERAPEUTIC HEALTH CHOICE.

08 COVER STORY WOJO’S MOJO The Pinconning-based brand finds an awardwinning formula in solventless hash and rosin By Wensdy Von Buskirk

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LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Inspired and Determined

MiCIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ow that Michigan’s primary election features one such business: Wojo Co., which is over, the November midterms are has mastered the art of solventless exfast approaching. The MiCIA is hard traction. You’ll learn about how founder and at work helping to elect cannabis-friendly CEO Tyler Wejrowski persevered through candidates who understand and support our early setbacks and turned delays to his industry. As always, in this issue, our lead advantage. lobbyist, Kevin McKinney, gives readers Calyxeum, a cultivator whose owners a rundown of the key legislative issues at have strong roots in Detroit, has also stayed stake and the best ways to get involved this laser-focused on its mission: bringing quality election season (page 6). cannabis products to underserved groups. We’re fortunate to have one of those Operators LaToyia Rucker and Rebecca Colett cannabis-friendly candidates, incumbent also built their own nonprofit organization, Rep. Mike McFall of Hazel Park, contribute a Calyxeum Catalyst, to do even more good in column highlighting the ways their communities. Read more cannabis businesses have about how they’re moving canboosted the economies of the nabis forward on page 14. communities he serves. He Speaking of moving the inmakes the case for embracing dustry forward, this issue also the industry and treating cannaincludes stories that look to the bis businesses with the respect future. We cover the growing they deserve. Turn to page 7 to cannabis tourism industry and read his thoughtful words. how companies are capitalizing Craig DeMarco of The Roots on it (page 18). We also explore Robin Schneider Insurance shares another the innovative field of sustaininformed perspective in this able packaging and how brands issue. On page 23, he answers our questions are tackling the barriers to being eco-friendly about the recent federal rescheduling of (page 26). medical cannabis and the new opportunities it I hope this issue of MiCIA Magazine serves presents for Michigan licensees. as a source of inspiration and resolve, just as Despite that good news, we at the MiCIA our members have for us. We appreciate your are well aware that it’s been a tough year for support — in every form you’re able to give our members. You and your businesses are it — and look forward to collaborating with you always top of mind, and everything we do at during this election season and beyond. the association is in service of making the industry a better place for you. I have so much respect for the business owners who have found a way to carve out their corner of the market and flourish even Robin Schneider, Executive Director in difficult times. Our cover story on page 8

CHAIR

4 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

MICHIGAN CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 216 N. Chestnut St. Lansing, MI 48933 micia.org FOLLOW US AND LIKE US

MiCIA STAFF ROBIN SCHNEIDER Executive Director robin@micia.org KENZIE TERPSTRA Membership Coordinator kenzie@micia.org MICHAEL J. PATTWELL Corporation Legal Counsel mpattwell@clarkhill.com KEVIN A. MCKINNEY Lobbyist kevin@mckinneyandassociates.net For membership inquiries, email info@micia.org PUBLISHING PARTNER

5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100 Troy, MI 48098 Phone: 248.691.1800 / Fax: 248.691.4531 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Ed Peabody MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Sedlacek ART DIRECTOR Mike Wagester PRODUCTION MANAGER Crystal Nelson PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Alessandra Taranta ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Donna Kassab, Mary Pantely CONTRIBUTORS Jessica Baird, Patrick Dunn, Paris Giles, Becky Kalajian, Mike Lerchenfeldt, Mike McFall, Kevin A. McKinney, Wensdy Von Buskirk

VICE CHAIR

MiCIA Magazine is published exclusively for the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association by Hour Custom Publishing, a division of Hour Media, LLC. Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved. No portion may be copied or published without the express written consent of the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the MiCIA or Hour Media.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Wrapping Up Before Election Season The Michigan Legislature has moved slowly on MiCIA priorities ahead of the 2026 midterm election

ompleting the fiscal year 2026-27 state budget was less difficult than last fall, when the Legislature tied the controversial local road funding program and 24% cannabis tax to the budget, missed the constitutional deadline, and had to pass a continuation budget before reaching an agreement. This year’s cycle ended with a historic marathon session lasting more than 21 hours. Both chambers had passed budgets with sharply different priorities, but negotiations stayed focused as members sought to return home to campaign for the midterm elections. House Speaker Matt Hall attempted to link a major property tax reform package to the budget, which would have reduced state revenue by about $4 billion or required new revenue streams. The House was unwilling to identify those sources, and the Senate was unwilling to revisit the issue this year. Legislative leaders agreed to move dozens of lower-profile policy bills pending in both chambers in hopes of securing enough commitments to pass the budget. Both chambers quickly advanced their own political narratives around the adopted budget, then adjourned through the Labor Day holiday. It remains unclear how many actual session days they will hold before the November election. My assessment is that there may be only one or two session days, likely focused on issues with political value. During the spring session, there was limited movement on the MiCIA’s priorities, as was true for most interest groups. The Senate’s intoxicating hemp package (Senate Bills 599-602), now pending in the House Regulatory Reform Committee, has not advanced, although Rep. Donavan McKinney’s identical package received a hearing in late June. The MiCIA testified, along with one of its member labs, about concerns regarding impurities in intoxicating hemp products. Without statutory prohibition, these untested products remain on store shelves, are available to the public, and are easy for minors

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to purchase, creating a serious public health risk. Hopefully, the House Regulatory Reform Committee will act this fall and report the bills to the House floor. SB 704, which would authorize operation of the state reference lab, remains in the House Regulatory Reform Committee. The Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee held a brief hearing on SBs 597 and 598, during which Sen. Sam Singh updated members on changes based on the MiCIA’s input that are now included in a new substitute for the package. The committee took no further action, though additional work is expected over the summer. The Michigan Department of Treasury reported that first-quarter revenue from the 24% wholesale tax fell far short of original estimates for the road funding program. There is growing recognition that the tax was ill-advised and poorly designed. However, there have been no serious discussions about taking up SB 810, which would repeal it, because the administration would need to identify replacement revenue for road funding. With the MiCIA’s continued advocacy against the tax, I expect this issue to receive serious consideration in the legislative session beginning in 2027, unless the MiCIA prevails in court against the tax. The House has moved more slowly on cannabis industry priorities, including the Senate-passed intoxicating hemp package and license-cap legislation. The House Regulatory Reform Committee advanced HB 4501, which authorizes the Cannabis Regulatory Agency to operate the state reference lab, along with two enforcement bills that would allow the CRA to summarily suspend licenses in limited circumstances and sanction businesses no longer operating under their licenses. HB 5105 and HB 5107, which address possession limits and penalties, were also reported from committee and remain on second reading on the House floor. Because most of these measures require a

supermajority vote, it became increasingly clear that there were not enough votes to pass them, especially while the budget remained the Legislature’s primary focus. HB 4963, which would require cash on delivery, remains under discussion as stakeholders explore practical approaches to meet the industry’s current needs. In the final days of session, House members introduced additional cannabis-related bills. Reps. Julie Rogers and Mike Hoadley introduced HBs 6162 and 6163, a bipartisan package addressing options for managing and transporting cannabis plant waste. Rep. McKinney introduced HB 6215, a comprehensive proposal to reform the CRA’s enforcement and disciplinary process and create a cannabis licensing appeals board. All three bills were referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee. The MiCIA supports HBs 6162 and 6163 but has not yet taken a formal position on HB 6215. Now that the August primary has clarified the path for certain campaigns, the cannabis industry must remain actively engaged in the November general election. This means supporting the MiCIA State PAC so the industry can continue to play a meaningful role in statewide and legislative races. Now is the time to fully support the trade association’s efforts to elect cannabis-friendly candidates. MiCIA members, as well as cannabis allies and advocates, must also help build an enthusiastic volunteer base to support campaigns through activities such as canvassing and phone banking. This effort will ramp up after the Labor Day holiday. We must work hard to elect a governor, attorney general, and legislators who respect and understand the cannabis industry and are committed to working with the MiCIA to address Michigan’s current challenges.

Kevin A. McKinney is the lead lobbyist for the MiCIA.

COURTESY PHOTO

By Kevin A. McKinney

OPINION

Cannabis Businesses Are Part of Michigan’s Economy. It’s Time We Start Treating Them That Way. By Rep. Mike McFall

azel Park has always marched to its own beat. We are a community defined by a gritty independence and a willingness to look at old problems through a new lens. When we made the decision to go all in on the cannabis industry, including famously handing cannabis icon Tommy Chong a key to the city, there were plenty of skeptics. Some wondered if our forward-thinking approach was too big of a gamble. Today, the verdict is unequivocally clear: Embracing marijuana has been a transformative economic win for our community. As a former Hazel Park City Council member and now a state representative, I have had a front-row seat to this evolution. I’ve watched firsthand as an industry that was once pushed into the shadows became a cornerstone of our local economic revival. As we now take the lead on the decriminalization of psilocybin, we are once again applying that same open-minded, pioneering spirit to emerging therapies. By choosing to lead rather than follow, we are proving that a pragmatic approach to new industries yields tangible, everyday benefits for our residents. When I served on the Hazel Park City Council, we were grappling with the same tough realities facing many postindustrial Midwestern cities, from vacant storefronts and industrial buildings to the daunting challenge of balancing municipal budgets. We needed a lifeline and an engine for revitalization. We chose to welcome the cannabis industry, and it changed the trajectory of our local economy. Those once-empty storefronts have been replaced by a dynamic business corridor. Cannabis retailers drive steady traffic to our city, with visitors staying to eat at our restaurants and shop at our stores. Supporting small businesses has always been a core priority of mine, and cannabis has proved to be a massive catalyst for local commerce.

The most profound impact has been on the city’s bottom line. Annually, Hazel Park receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in state excise tax revenue generated by adult-use marijuana sales. This revenue represents real security. It has allowed us to secure our retirees’ pensions, honoring the municipal workers who kept our city running, and allowed us to maintain essential public services without passing the additional financial burden on to taxpayers. Now, as a state representative, I have the privilege of taking this perspective to Lansing. I represent Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Center Line, and Warren, communities that recognized the potential of this industry early and chose to embrace it. That decision has paid off, creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and generating millions in tax revenue that helps fund the services our residents rely on. As this industry matures, we have to ensure it remains stable. One thing I’ve learned talking with cannabis business owners is that they’re asking for many of the same things every other business asks for: clear rules, consistency, and a chance to succeed. Those are not controversial requests. Businesses make long-term investments when they know the rules won’t constantly change, and communities benefit when those investments stay local. This is exactly why I recently voted against the newly proposed 24% wholesale cannabis tax. Slapping a massive tax hike on cannabis businesses hurts a new and growing industry that is just finding its footing. We rely on these local entrepreneurs to employ many of our neighbors and fund our local municipalities; overtaxing them not only stifles that

growth but risks pushing consumers back to the unregulated market. Our success with cannabis is a testament to what happens when local government prioritizes practical solutions over outdated stigmas. It is that exact same open-minded, pioneering spirit that is guiding my work today as we look toward the future of public health and mental health treatments. Recently, I introduced legislation (House Bill 4686) in Lansing to decriminalize psilocybin for people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Just like with cannabis, we are looking past the stigma and focusing on science and human impact. A growing body of research demonstrates that psilocybin can be a highly effective treatment for severe trauma, anxiety, and depression. We have veterans, first responders, and everyday citizens in our community who are suffering and who have found no relief in traditional pharmaceuticals. Decriminalizing this natural medicine is about getting government out of the way of therapies that actually work. Communities like Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Center Line, and Warren aren’t just adapting to the future; we are actively writing it. We took a perceived risk on marijuana, and it helped revitalize our communities, secure our pensions, and fill our storefronts. Now, we are taking a compassionate, evidence-based stance on psilocybin to help heal our residents. When we choose to lead with courage and common sense, everybody wins. State Rep. Mike McFall represents Michigan’s 14th House District, serving 91,347 constituents in Center Line, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, and part of Warren.

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COVER STORY

“We built a brand. We built a quality product. We built [a team of] quality people, and I’d say the biggest thing that sets us apart is just the care that goes into every bit of our products.” —Tyler Wejrowski, founder and CEO of Wojo Co. 8 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

COVER STORY

Wojo’s Mojo The Pinconning-based brand finds an award-winning formula in solventless hash and rosin BY WENSDY VON BUSKIRK

s Michigan cannabis companies jockey for position in a crowded market, Wojo Co. has risen to become one of the state’s best-known hash and rosin producers. Its commitment to solventless extraction has earned the company loyal customers, a bounty of accolades, and a growing reputation in the industry. MiCIA Magazine visited the company’s headquarters on a recent summer day to find out the secret behind Wojo’s special sauce.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WOJO CO.

LONG ROAD TO LAUNCH Wojo Co. is located in Pinconning near Saginaw Bay. The facility began operating in 2023, but founder and CEO Tyler Wejrowski’s story starts much earlier than that. Wejrowski started caregiving in 2011, growing medical cannabis. When the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act passed in 2016, Wejrowski saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the emerging industry. “I immediately quit my job, put together a business plan, and started searching for investors,” he says. Wejrowski found his mostly silent partner, Jay Janicke, and together they purchased a 46-acre parcel in Pinconning in 2017. They received a municipal permit for the property less than a year later. micia.org 9

COVER STORY

STAYING POWER Rather than give up, Wejrowski used the delay to refine his vision. He drew and

redrew plans for the facility and began developing the differentiator that would eventually set Wojo apart from the many cannabis companies that had gotten a head start: He decided to focus on solventless extraction. “I saw a lot of people doing butane hash oil at the time, using chemicals, and I wanted to make a switch,” he says. “I wanted to do solventless, so I bought a press and started playing around with it.” To deepen his knowledge, Wejrowski attended a workshop in Las Vegas. “I took great notes, brought all of that back to Michigan, bought everything I needed to, and got to work,” he says. The effort paid off when he won first place for nonsolvent hash in the 2018 High Times Midwest Cannabis Cup with Cream D’Mint, now known as Wojo Mints. “That was when everything snowballed,” he says. “We were like, ‘Holy cow, we have a brand. We have a product people want.’”

Left: Wojo Co. separates the trichome heads on Strawberry Candy, a strain with a sweet, candylike flavor and uplifting effects, from the rest of the plant during the hash washing stage. Right: Luchini makes for an appealing white hash with a funky flavor. Inset above: Tyler Wejrowski, founder and CEO of Wojo Co.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF WOJO CO.

Raised in nearby Bay City, Wejrowski chose Pinconning because it was close to home and among the first townships to opt into Michigan’s medical cannabis program. Named after the moniker Wejrowski has carried since eighth grade football, Wojo was poised to begin commercial operations as soon as the market launched in 2018. Instead, those plans were derailed when a cannabis giant opened a massive cultivation and processing facility just down the road, Wejrowski says. “[They] took all the power, so we had to wait three years for the grid to get built up,” he recalls. The wait was agonizing. “It seemed terrible at the time, being told your dreams [would be] put on hold for at least three years,” he says. “There was no end in sight.”

COVER STORY

INSIDE THE HIVE When I arrive to tour the Pinconning facility, I pull up to a tidy gray warehouse emblazoned with the company’s large yellow bee logo, surrounded by farm fields off a quiet two-lane country road. Wejrowski pops his head out the door to welcome me. As I sign in, I spot that first Cannabis Cup trophy — an ornate gold chalice with a braided stem — dwarfed by the growing collection of awards surrounding the front desk. Among them are awards from Best in Grass, Top Shelf Showdown, and Bring Your Best, at which Lemon Stank earned top rosin honors in 2025. The facility is modern, spotless, and bright, with pops of the company’s signature yellow throughout the building, including on bin lids, tool handles, and the furniture in the break room, where the roughly 50-member team gathers for monthly lunches. Wejrowski led much of the build-out himself, from installing irrigation piping to painting decorative yellow slats that resemble streams of rich hash oil dripping down the walls. Along with its processing license, Wojo operates three Class C cultivation licenses, allowing it to grow up to 6,000 plants. At any given time, as many as 50 strains are in rotation. The company harvests every week, following a carefully choreographed production schedule. During my visit, it’s one of two weekly trim days, and team members line the countertops, their hands busy at work cleaning fresh buds. Only a small portion of the flower is preserved for bulk sales. The rest is destined for extraction.

CAPTURING THE FLAVOR As we move through the production area, Wejrowski walks me through the solventless process that transforms freshly harvested cannabis into bubble hash and live rosin. The journey starts immediately after harvest. Buds are cut from the stalks and frozen within an hour. Plant material is spread out and fully frozen before being bagged to prevent mold and preserve terpene profiles.

Corey, Wojo’s head of processing, squeezes hash with a Flux heat press, which uses high pressure and carefully controlled temperatures to create rosin, at the company’s Pinconning facility.

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COVER STORY

“[Winning at the 2018 High Times Midwest Cannabis Cup] was when everything snowballed. We were like, ‘Holy cow, we have a brand. We have a product people want.’” —Tyler Wejrowski, founder and CEO of Wojo Co.

Wejrowski shows me a pair of 75-gallon stainless-steel machines used for hash washing. Here, reverse osmosis filtered water gently separates valuable trichome heads from the other plant material. “It’s like panning for gold,” Wejrowski says. From there, the collected hash is spread onto trays and loaded into freeze dryers, where it spends about 24 hours shedding moisture. What emerges is a dry, almost-sandy concentrate ready for the next step. Wejrowski points to a 25-ton Flux heat press, in which pressure and carefully controlled temperatures transform the dried hash into rosin. That rosin becomes the foundation for much of Wojo’s product lineup, including Wo-Go vape cartridges, Wojo Wax, infused pre-rolls, Wojo Solventless Oil, and Wojo Rubzz, the company’s new rosin-infused 12 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

medicated body rub. After packaging and inspection, products are shipped to several hundred dispensaries — and counting — across the state.

BUILDING THE BUZZ Wojo’s commitment to quality, consistency, and purity is rooted in preserving the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, helping consumers experience the desired specific effects in every product. To make its lineup easier to navigate, the company organizes products into five flavor collections: citrus, funky, gassy, floral, and candy. Wejrowski reflects on the years he spent incubating the company and perfecting his craft before the brand could launch. The delay ultimately allowed him to make smarter decisions, he says. Wojo had time to test out each piece of equipment

on a small scale before going all in. Rather than use high-pressure sodium lights, Wojo installed LED lighting and recently added undercanopy lighting to increase yields. Wejrowski also decided against manufacturing gummies in-house, choosing instead to collaborate with established brands. He’s particularly excited about the company’s current collaboration with True North Collective, producing colorful triangle-shaped 50-milligram solventless gummies inspired by Wojo’s signature flavor profiles. Looking back, he says the success was worth the wait. “It taught me a lot of life lessons,” Wejrowski says. “It seemed like we missed the green rush, but we didn’t. We built a brand. We built a quality product. We built [a team of] quality people, and I’d say the biggest thing that sets us apart is just the care that goes into every bit of our products.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF WOJO CO.

Wojo Co. teamed up with True North Collective to produce rosin-infused THC gummies that represent each of Wojo’s flavor collections.

Growth takes more than a seed. It takes a strategy. Michigan’s cannabis market is evolving fast — we help you stay ahead. Oversupply. Shrinking margins. Shifting regulations. In Michigan’s competitive cannabis landscape, success isn’t just about producing great product — it’s about running a smarter business. At Maner Costerisan, we specialize in helping cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and vertically integrated operators navigate growth, restructuring, and compliance with confidence. As longtime members of the MiCIA, we understand Michigan’s unique market challenges — and how to turn them into opportunities. Whether you’re preparing for expansion, considering a sale, or trying to tighten operations, our team delivers: • • • • •

CFO-level guidance for multi-entity structures Accounting Techology and Integration with seed-to-sale and other operational software Cash flow forecasting and margin analysis to improve profitability FASB-compliant lease accounting and real-time reporting Support with audits

We don’t just help you grow — we help you grow wisely. Talk To An Expert: Tim Bograkos Business Development Director tbograkos@manercpa.com 517-323-7500

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

The Heart of Cannabis Calyxeum keeps quality products and underserved groups at the center of its mission BY PARIS GILES

hen an industry booms, consolidation often follows, and hopefully, what’s left over is the topquality product. Words like “oversaturation” and “oversupply” still bounce around cannabis circles, but Calyxeum is one brand choosing to trust the process to be one of the passionate and caring operators left standing. The Kalamazoo-based grow and cultivation facility is led by Detroit natives LaToyia Rucker, chief operating officer, and Rebecca Colett, chief executive officer. As Black women in a sea of bud bros, they’re not afraid to lean into polish, a focus on female consumers, and a reverence for the healing power of the plant.

Rebecca Colett (left) and LaToyia Rucker

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALYXEUM

Rebecca Colett (left) and LaToyia Rucker (right) pose in their Kalamazoo-based grow and cultivation facility.

Rucker and Colett connected around 2017 at the behest of other industry acquaintances who just knew that the two women needed to meet. Both boast rich and varied backgrounds in and outside of cannabis. Colett, who has advanced degrees in business and supply chain engineering, had been lobbying in Maryland and California, advocating for cannabis and plant medicine. In doing that work, she’d noticed a lack of diversity. “One time, I was going up to talk to a speaker after they had finished a panel, and someone asked me whose assistant I was,” Colett recalls. “It was a very pivotal moment.” She noted the irony of the ubiquity of cannabis use, the way it knows no demographic bounds, while that same diversity doesn’t exist among the people running the businesses and setting policy. Previously, Colett had worked in tech, advocating for Black women in STEM, so it was natural to redirect that passion to the cannabis space. Around 2020, Colett moved back to

Michigan, where Rucker was already working as a cannabis caregiver for her grandmother and other relatives with chronic illnesses including cancer. Rucker, who studied biology at Tuskegee University and education at Wayne State University, says she saw how cannabis improved their quality of life. Her patients could go out and do more things since they were no longer in so much pain. “For me, it was the medicinal aspects of the plant that really drew me to it,” she says. Rucker says she started networking with other caregivers, and when Michigan legalized adult use, she didn’t want to abandon what she’d started. She also didn’t want to be left behind. She and Colett discussed options, and through their conversations, it became clear that if they could figure out the right way to marry Colett’s business acumen with Rucker’s background in botany and science, they could make something happen. Calyxeum launched in fall 2020

“ You’ve got folks inhaling our products, so I believe in using clean nutrients. … We’ve always focused on our quality being much, much better than most because of the inputs.” — LaToyia Rucker, chief operating officer of Calyxeum

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

as a digital brand offering education on cannabis to build brand awareness. Their identities became part of their hook. “People were not used to Black women talking about plants,” Colett says. “When you think about a farmer, oftentimes you think about a white guy with a beard that looks kind of scruffy, which is the very opposite of LaToyia and me.” Their first products, three strains of flower, hit shelves at Quality Roots in spring 2021, and when those products sold well, they expanded into other stores and added gummies to their suite of offerings. At the time, they were partnering with an outside cultivator, which they say had its pros and cons. On the positive side, they were able to get acclimated to the commercial production and distribution process, learning skills such as how to price products and how to sell to dispensaries. 16 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

On the flip side, the women found that not everyone appreciated their broader goal of introducing cannabis to diverse audiences — centering women, professionals, people of color, and other oft-overlooked groups. And when you don’t have your hands on every step of the operation, you don’t have as much control over the final product. “Some things happened that kind of left a sour taste in our mouths, and it was time to cut out all the middlemen,” Colett says. Of course, it was also important that the math added up. Rucker says of working with cultivators, “The landscape of those types of partnerships in Michigan really is not to the advantage of the brand; it’s more to the cultivator.” Today, Calyxeum grows its cannabis inhouse. Colett and Rucker have worked with a combination of employees, contractors,

Above: Calyxeum provides flower, pre-rolls, and gummies to about a dozen dispensaries. Right: The pair's nonprofit, Calyxeum Catalyst, has spearheaded the creation of a community garden in Detroit, among other initiatives.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALYXEUM

and temps as needed, and they partner with about a dozen dispensaries — building especially strong relationships with Black-owned spots — to provide flower, infused pre-rolls, and gummies. They say the feedback they receive shows that customers and budtenders trust the quality of Calyxeum’s products and appreciate the nuances in flavor, whereas other brands sometimes cut costs by cutting corners. Rucker says one nonnegotiable for her is to avoid using salt-based nutrients. “I think salts are super harsh,” she says. “You’ve got folks inhaling our products, so I believe in using clean nutrients. … We’ve

always focused on our quality being much, much better than most because of the inputs.” Still, they’re feeling the bottom-line anxiety right along with the rest of the industry. Michigan’s new wholesale tax comes up; it’s top of mind for most. “It is hurting operators of all sizes,” Rucker says. “For small operators, profit margins are already nearly nonexistent even before the tax is applied. It seems unreasonable to expect a relatively new industry to be responsible for fixing the roads.” Alongside trying to skate on razor-thin margins, they both say being Black

women in cannabis can be disheartening. They’ve clocked some improvement in some areas but still often feel invisible in the rooms they enter — and find that health and wellness are not always the focus. So they choose to be selective about how they interact with the industry and instead center the big picture, which for them remains pouring care into underserved groups and offering a pathway for those seeking a seat at the table. Both Rucker and Colett live in metro Detroit and take tremendous pride in Calyxeum’s community initiatives. Through the nonprofit Calyxeum Catalyst, they have run a cannabis incubator program that has helped participants gain the skills needed to open their own businesses. Calyxeum Catalyst has also spearheaded an initiative to revitalize vacant lots on the city’s west side and turn them into inviting green spaces, including a community garden. “Our community garden is really the heart of who we are,” Rucker says.

“ Our community garden is really the heart of who we are.” — LaToyia Rucker, chief operating officer of Calyxeum

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TOURISM

High Season Cannatourism is finding its place in Michigan’s summer travel economy BY BECKY KALAJIAN

hen summer hits the city, Michigan’s small waterfront towns lure in vacationers with festivals, events, tours, and beaches. Now, another stop is finding its way onto vacation itineraries: cannabis dispensaries, some of which offer educational experiences and behind-the-scenes cultivation tours to help boost sales and foster understanding of the industry. Industry observers say cannabis tourism — or cannatourism — is a growing part of the state’s tourism ecosystem, particularly in Michigan’s shoreline towns. It’s a market that attracts a range of vacationers, says John Lipford, assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management at Grand Valley State University.

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“People come to Michigan for different reasons, and cannabis can play very different roles in those travel experiences,” he says in his personal view. “[However,] there is a growing segment that seeks authentic, educational experiences that offer a deeper understanding of the plant and the industry behind it.” Is there a place for cannatourism in Pure Michigan? Some believe there well could be.

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY KAREN KEKELIK. OPPOSITE PAGE: ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

BEHIND-THE-SCENES EXPERIENCES In Muskegon, seed-to-sale IndiGrow has built an entire cannatourism model around education. Before the microbusiness opened its doors, co-owners Karen and Steven Kekelik intentionally designed the facility as an educational experience. “We knew we wanted an element of cannatourism,” Karen Kekelik says. “We felt it would be the best way to educate people about what cannabis really is and how the commercial industry actually works.” IndiGrow’s one-to-two-hour tours immerse guests in the cultivation process. Participants suit up in protective gear, pass through an air shower, and enter active grow rooms where they can see, smell, and even touch the plants. Guests visit drying rooms, trimming areas, and the company’s production laboratory before leaving with products and souvenirs included in the $100 ticket. The experience draws a remarkably diverse audience, Kekelik says. About half of visitors come from Michigan, while the rest hail from around the country and abroad. IndiGrow has hosted guests from all 50 states and nine different countries, a portion arriving through Muskegon’s cruise ship port. The tours are not just for consumers; in fact, a segment of visitors comes just to learn. “We get a lot of people who are just curious,” she says. “They want to understand the process and learn more about the industry.” No matter the focus, IndiGrow’s tours have attracted more than 1,000 visitors since 2022, and they’re in especially high demand during the summer tourism season, Kekelik says.

Visitors to Muskegon's IndiGrow can take educational tours of the facility. Clockwise from top: Tour guests examine plants with magnifying glasses in Flower Room 1. Visitors make a stop in the training room before embarking on their tour. A tour guest views trichomes on a cannabis plant up close. Raeessa Smith checks out after taking a tour. micia.org 19

TOURISM

Michigan’s rich natural resources and culture create a prime environment for cannabis, just as in other states with more-mature markets, Lipford says. “We see similar parallels [with] Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington — they all have in common nature-based activities combined with those cultural ones,” he says. IndiGrow’s Karen Kekelik adds that beyond nature and culture, sometimes major life events drive her business’s traffic. “People are definitely incorporating cannabis into larger vacation itineraries,” Kekelik says. “We see bachelor and bachelorette parties, anniversaries, birthdays, and people who specifically build experiences around cannabis tourism.” In Alpena, Neighborhood Provisions

sees similar patterns. General Manager Travis Barker says summer traffic increases dramatically as seasonal residents, campers, boaters, and vacationers arrive in northern Michigan. “We definitely see a pretty large influx in the summertime,” Barker says. “More and more people are coming in saying, ‘We’re just up for the weekend and heard there was a dispensary in town.’” Barker says tourists and seasonal residents account for a significant portion of summer business. Tourists, Barker notes, often purchase differently in comparison to local consumers. Visitors tend to gravitate toward edibles and cannabis beverages — products that are easier to consume discreetly while traveling. “Beverages are great for boating and summer activities,” Barker says. “We defi-

nitely see more tourists purchasing those products.”

THE ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT The impact of cannatourism extends beyond dispensary sales. Lipford points out that cannabis tourists still need hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment. Like brewery and winery visitors, cannabis consumers inject life into the local economy. “Cannabis tourists are hospitality consumers first,” he says. “They want food service, lodging, and experiences just like every other traveler.”

BARRIERS TO GROWTH Despite growing demand, industry members say Michigan’s cannabis tourism infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

“More and more people are coming in saying, ‘We’re just up for the weekend and heard there was a dispensary in town.’” —Travis Barker, general manager at Neighborhood Provisions in Alpena 20 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROVISIONS

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TOURISM

THE NEXT BIG TOURISM SECTOR Lipford and Barker say that Michigan is still in the early stages of cannatourism growth. As cannabis becomes more mainstream, Lipford says demand will increase for cannabis-friendly lodging, educational tours, consumption lounges, wellness experiences,

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with tours, education, and experiences — I think it has every chance to become as recognizable as wine or beer tourism.”

John Lipford

and events that responsibly integrate cannabis into existing tourism offerings. He sees parallels to wine and craft beer tourism, industries that evolved from niche attractions into major economic drivers. “Cannabis can enhance the destination experience,” he says. Barker believes the potential may be larger than many people realize. “If we lean into craft cannabis the same way wineries lean into wine tourism —

“ Cannabis tourists are hospitality consumers first. They want food service, lodging, and experiences just like every other traveler.” — John Lipford, professor of hospitality and tourism management at Grand Valley State University

HEADSHOT COURTESY OF JOHN LIPFORD; BOTTOM PHOTO ADOBE STOCK

A common complaint is the lack of legal consumption spaces. Visitors can easily purchase cannabis but often have nowhere to use it legally if they are staying in hotels, vacation rentals, or campgrounds with consumption restrictions. “That’s probably the biggest challenge,” Barker says. “There aren’t really places where people can consume responsibly in a social setting.” That’s not the case in Muskegon. In 2023, the owners of the property next to IndiGrow worked with city officials to open a designated cannabis consumption establishment called The Bowl. IndiGrow, which opened its doors in November 2022, reaped the benefits. The outdoor consumption facility allows IndiGrow’s customers to consume safely next door, from which point they often continue exploring downtown and visit restaurants, festivals, and shops, Kekelik says. “It really became a win-win,” she says of The Bowl. “Cannabis consumers feel welcome, and everyone else can enjoy downtown comfortably as well.” For communities without designated consumption establishments, Lipford likens the situation to the early days of cannabis legalization in Nevada, when tourists could purchase cannabis legally but struggled to find legal places to consume it. There are glimmers of a brighter future. Michigan communities including Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo have approved consumption lounge frameworks, but many businesses are still waiting for regulatory clarity and sustainable operating models. Without those options, some travelers find themselves navigating confusing consumption rules that can create negative experiences for both visitors and local communities, Lipford says.

PERSPECTIVE

Relief at Last Federal rescheduling of medical cannabis opens new doors for Michigan licensees, says Craig DeMarco of The Roots Insurance By Patrick Dunn

“ It’s not going to be an overnight thing. Medical is probably going to have a rebirth because the savings are going to be so significant.” — Craig DeMarco, The Roots Insurance micia.org 23

PERSPECTIVE

At the broad level, what does the rescheduling of medical cannabis change for Michigan licensees? Everybody’s looking at the tax impact, but it’s really cash flow, hiring decisions, reinvestments, and benefit strategies. And it can provide stability across the industry. A lot of people are in survival mode and have been in survival mode probably since they started in the industry. So this can provide some significant relief for them on all of the other aspects of their business. We could see the industry moving from recreationally focused more towards that medical side, just because of the relief that’s there.

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You mentioned the positive impacts on cash flow, reinvestment, and hiring strategies. Can you dig into how rescheduling changes each of those pieces of a licensee’s business? It’s going to create an opportunity for them. You’re going to gain some financial flexibility. We don’t hear too much about groups reinvesting, whether it be into the facilities, the products, or employee wellness incentives. Allowing the owners to have more money is going to allow them to bolster their business in ways that they see fit. I think there are going to be significant swings within the industry in Michigan because of how businesses are managed and who’s taking advantage of these changes in the best way.

Where is the new cash flow opening up with this change? Is that mostly coming from the tax deductions? Yeah, it’s all tax-based right now. When businesses are putting money back into their business or putting money into their employees or things like that, there’s no tax benefit to that now. [After rescheduling,] if you have a group health insurance plan or a 401(k) plan, on the employer side those contributions and payments would be tax deductible. If you’re not going to be able to write things off or you’re not getting any tax relief recreationally, but you can save, say, 30% or 40% on the taxes you’re paying now on the medical side, you’re going to the medical side, right? I mean, medical in Michigan did really well before rec came in. It was a good, solid, strong industry. Rec came in and kind of watered it down, but there could be a significant shift back to that just for relief in those taxes. You pay for a medical license, and if you qualify in Michigan, just on taxes alone, you’re saving 16% right off the top with the excise and the sales tax. So it could be a significant changeover.

“ Everybody’s looking at the tax impact, but it’s really cash flow, hiring decisions, reinvestments, and benefit strategies. … So this can provide some significant relief for [licensees] on all of the other aspects of their business.” — Craig DeMarco, The Roots Insurance

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROOTS INSURANCE

n a major federal policy shift, the U.S. Department of Justice placed cannabis products approved for medical use in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act this April. The change applies to products approved by the FDA or regulated by state medical licenses. It moves medical cannabis from Schedule I, which includes drugs like heroin and LSD, to a lower-risk category that includes drugs like Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids. The most notable impact of this change is that it exempts medical cannabis businesses from Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, a statute that prevents businesses that deal in Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances from deducting business expenses from their federal taxes. But what does that actually mean, and what other implications does this policy have, for Michigan licensees? MiCIA Magazine talked to Craig DeMarco, employee benefits adviser at The Roots Insurance, about how rescheduling will reshape the Michigan cannabis market, the new opportunities it will open for licensees, and how it might affect compliance requirements. Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

PERSPECTIVE

Does this change bring new forms of federal oversight for Michigan licensees? And if so, what do licensees need to do to comply? That’s a curious, curious question that I think everybody wants to know [the answer to], but there’s nothing concrete out on how that’s going to look [as of midJune]. I would assume there’d be some sort of federal registry or something to that extent for medical, but it would boil down to something state-specific because it’s the most state-specific industry. But it doesn’t make sense for them to open up and reschedule and get this relief out there and then make it so difficult to take advantage of. This is something that’s going to really take off and have some traction. Who knows how governments work, but it could be in the next six to 12 months that we could start seeing some benefits of this moving forward.

The prospect of the federal government rescheduling recreational cannabis is still on the table, too. Do you anticipate that will happen? And how will everything we’ve been talking about change if it does?

buying a pack of pre-rolls, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

I don’t see it ever changing on a federal level. Not that government doesn’t like creating new divisions of government, but you’d be creating a whole new division of government [to regulate it]. All these states are managed themselves, and every state’s regulations are completely different. So I don’t think it’s ever going to go federal. I think it’s just going to be relief. [Classifying recreational cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance is] an archaic law. It’s a prohibition. The differences between cannabis and alcohol are not that big, and you can tell that because the alcohol industry is the biggest opponent to the cannabis industry. They want to use their leverage and their resources to squash [cannabis] because they need people drinking. The cannabis industry has some weight to pull in the state as well, but going to 7-Eleven and

It’s not going to be an overnight thing. Medical is probably going to have a rebirth because the savings are going to be so significant. What’s it going to look like with everybody going back to that world of doctors and approvals? We just don’t know. I think the longest play that would be interesting to see is the federal government’s going to get their hands in it, but their hands are going to be in it on the prescription side. What type of prescriptions are going to be FDA-approved, and are you going to be able to pick those up at CVS? Or are they going to come out with basically a THC bill, or are they going to be able to control the dosage to a certain extent, and now you’re taking federal government money and research resources to what everyone’s been doing locally? That’s going to be the most interesting thing.

Is there anything else you’d like to add on this topic that you think licensees should know?

micia.org 25

CANNABUSINESS

Beyond the Plastic Jar New materials, smarter design, and evolving regulations all play a role in how cannabis companies can reduce packaging waste By Wensdy Von Buskirk

W Above: Dymapak’s recyclable flexible pouches can be made with postconsumer recycled material. Below: Dymapak produces a Slide Safe box made of paperboard that can hold vape cartridges and pre-rolls.

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alk into any Michigan dispensary, and you’ll find shelves lined with colorful jars, pouches, tubes, and cartons protecting everything from flower and pre-rolls to concentrates, edibles, and vape cartridges. While packaging plays a critical role in product safety and compliance, it also creates one of the cannabis industry’s biggest environmental challenges. Michigan’s legal cannabis market surpassed $3 billion in sales in 2025, generating a waste stream of individual packages along the way. Every container must satisfy a long list of regulatory requirements, often for products weighing just a few grams. For an industry whose roots are closely tied to environmental stewardship, the amount of packaging can feel contradictory. Today, packaging manufacturers are responding with recyclable metals, postconsumer recycled plastics, and biodegradable paper products designed to reduce

environmental impact. Yet sustainability isn’t as simple as swapping one material for another. Cost, consumer behavior, and state regulations all influence whether greener packaging succeeds.

REGULATING WASTE For years, the cannabis industry’s packaging problem was largely anecdotal, according to researcher Mitchell Colbert. Colbert wanted to put numbers behind it. His 2024 study, published in ASTM International’s Journal of Testing and Evaluation, became one of the first to quantify the environmental impact of cannabis packaging, he says. “There was kind of a packaging-shaped blind spot left over in the research [on cannabis waste],” Colbert says. “Now, we finally have some actual peer-reviewed academic data that people can point to on cannabis packaging.” Colbert found cannabis regulations play a role in the waste stream. Cannabis packaging is regulated state by state; in Michigan, products must be sold in opaque, child-resistant packaging with specific warning labels. Those safeguards require significantly more material than traditional consumer packaged goods. Using historical packaging samples and California sales data, Colbert compared cannabis packaging before and after legalization regulations took effect. His research found packaging waste increased dramatically across several product categories, with pre-roll packaging waste alone increasing by more than 400% per average product sold. Part of the increase came from childresistant requirements. Another contributor was mandatory warning labels. “Even if brands wanted to package

CANNABUSINESS

things as small as they used to, that is not possible anymore because they have to accommodate all the warning labels,” Colbert says. He believes future regulatory changes, such as allowing QR codes for some required information, could reduce package sizes while maintaining consumer access to safety information. For cannabis businesses already operating on razor-thin margins, smaller packages could also reduce manufacturing and shipping costs.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DYMAPAK

SUSTAINABILITY BY DESIGN Packaging companies are tackling the unique challenges the cannabis industry presents while evolving more-sustainable products. Connecticut-based Dymapak entered the cannabis industry in its infancy after the company, founded by Ross Kirsh, developed one of the industry’s first certified child-resistant flexible pouches. Today, the company supplies packaging to cannabis, pharmaceutical, and wellness brands worldwide while investing in sustainable alternatives. Kirsh says sustainability begins by looking beyond marketing claims and considering what actually happens after a consumer throws the package away. Many compostable plastics, for example, require commercial composting facilities that are unavailable in most communities. “[It’s really about] reducing packaging’s impact in the real world, not just on paper,” Kirsh says. Dymapak has focused on packaging that works within existing recycling systems. The company’s product line includes recyclable mono-material pouches, packaging made with postconsumer recycled plastic, paperboard boxes, and child-resistant metal tins designed without plastic components. Aluminum is particularly attractive because it can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality, making it one of the most recyclable packaging materials available. Also important, Kirsh says, is durability. “If you can really reuse it, you’ll keep it,” he says. “If it stops working after five times, it’s going in the garbage.”

MORE CHOICES THAN EVER Manufacturers across the industry are introducing sustainable options tailored to different cannabis products. Arizona-based DIZPOT recently introduced a patented paper jar for pre-rolls, flower, and edibles. The design combines a biodegradable paper body with a food-grade liner and ASTM-certified child-resistant closure while reducing use of conventional plastics. The company also offers kraft paper packaging, cardboard inserts, and other fiber-based materials. Illinois-based CannaCarton’s offerings include postconsumer recycled jars, tubes made from reclaimed ocean plastic, recyclable paperboard cartons, and compostable packaging.

Above: Dymapak’s Squeeze & Turn steel tin is childresistant, curbside recyclable, and plastic-free. Below: Ross Kirsh, founder of Dymapak.

THE COST QUESTION Although consumers increasingly value environmentally responsible brands, cost remains one of the industry’s biggest obstacles. Michigan’s cannabis market continues to experience price compression, making it difficult for operators to absorb higher packaging costs. Kirsh says the right solution often depends on where a brand sits in the marketplace. Premium products may justify glass or aluminum packaging, while value brands often find the best balance in recyclable or recycled-content plastics. “Everybody wants sustainability,” Kirsh says. But if consumers have to choose between saving a few dollars or paying more “because of the packaging, a lot of people are going to … save their money.” Kirsh expects continued improvements in recycling technology and has seen greater adoption of postconsumer recycled content, which comprises materials made from products that have been used by consumers and then recycled, such as plastic bottles and food containers. For many companies, PCR packaging can offer one of the easiest ways to reduce environmental impact.

BEYOND MATERIALS Colbert says solving the cannabis waste problem will require more than innovative materials. He believes regulators should

“ [It’s really about] reducing packaging’s impact in the real world, not just on paper.” —Ross Kirsh, founder of Dymapak

continue evaluating which products truly require child-resistant packaging and whether modern technology can replace some printed warning labels. Dymapak’s Kirsh argues that recycling infrastructure deserves equal attention. Kirsh notes that a package labeled “compostable” offers little environmental benefit if consumers have no access to industrial composting facilities. By contrast, materials like aluminum, paperboard, and certain recyclable plastics can often be processed through existing municipal recycling systems. “I think that the recyclability and the processing of plastics is going to get much better,” Kirsh says. “Somebody has to take that plunge. ... Then more people will invest in it.” micia.org 27

CULTIVATION

The War on Bugs Managing pests and diseases in cannabis cultivation requires growers to stay proactive By Mike Lerchenfeldt

or cannabis growers, the margin between a record-breaking harvest and a total crop failure often comes down to managing pests and diseases. Like many plants, cannabis is an appealing target for a wide variety of destructive pests and pathogens. Its dense, resinous flower structure makes it particularly susceptible to moisture-related problems such as yeast and mold. Successfully bringing a crop to market requires a deep understanding of these threats, rigorous preventive strategies, and an awareness of how the cultivation environment changes the battlefield. Whether you’re managing an indoor facility or an outdoor farm, clean cultivation practices are the only path to producing compliant, high-quality flower.

Lab Manager Sarah Knudsen prepares samples in the microbiology pod at Therapeutic Health Choice’s Bay City laboratory.

Cannabis testing looks for invisible threats, including the population of fungi measured by total yeast and mold count (shortened to TYMC) and a wide array of banned chemical pesticides, to ensure that the product is safe for consumption. Excessive yeast and mold can degrade product quality and pose health risks — especially for vulnerable populations. “The causes of TYMC failures vary greatly among facilities,” says Peter McMillan, CEO of Therapeutic Health Choice, a cannabis testing lab in Bay City. “There typically is not a single root cause behind failing microbial tests. The most effective way to control microbials is through a comprehensive approach: managing the growing environment, keeping proper biosecurity, following standard operating procedure for quality control, and implementing preventative maintenance along with regular 28 MiCIA MAGAZINE | VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • 2026

equipment cleaning.” A failure in one of these areas can have severe financial consequences. A failed test means the product cannot enter the consumer market, resulting in lost revenue and wasted labor. It’s not necessarily the end of the road for the crop, but it will thwart your original plans. “Certainly, remediated products are a viable option if a batch fails for TYMC, especially through extraction,” McMillan says. “If there are repeated failures, turning a harvest into concentrate is a great solution. Other remediation techniques, such as radiation and ozone, reduce practical counts. However, any of these processes will change the product and leave you with something new.”

PLAYING DEFENSE WITH OFFENSE Staying proactive is key to a successful

harvest, says Paul Mastej, general manager at Grasshopper Farms, an outdoor grow in Paw Paw. “Our approach to growing outdoors comes down to one philosophy: The best defense is a good offense,” Mastej says. “Rather than waiting for pest pressure, weather damage, or wildlife issues to show up and reacting after the fact, we build our entire cultivation strategy around getting ahead of them.” Indoor cultivators must also implement strict sanitation rules. Staff should change into clean, facility-provided garments, including footwear, before entering cultivation zones. Workers should always move from the cleanest rooms to the highest-risk rooms, not the reverse. Adhering to standard operating procedures is nonnegotiable.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THERAPEUTIC HEALTH CHOICE

PASSING THE TEST

CULTIVATION

STAYING DRY Moisture management is critical in the defense against fungal pathogens. Cultivators must ensure adequate air movement across every inch of the canopy. Proper defoliation — the strategic removal of leaves — improves airflow and reduces the relative humidity within the plant structure. “Humidity management is a daily, firsthand job for us, not a once-a-season fix,” Mastej says. “Our integrated pest management and scouting schedule shifts as the weather changes; we are walking the beds constantly during dew-heavy mornings and rainy stretches, looking for early signs of botrytis before it can take hold. Our main physical tool is backpack blowers: Our team moves through the field clearing standing moisture off the canopy to get buds dry as fast as possible after dew or rain.” Indoor growers must be hypervigilant about air movement. Even with an HVAC system, stagnant pockets of air can form within a dense plant canopy. These microclimates trap moisture, which creates the perfect breeding ground for powdery mildew and botrytis. These fungal pathogens can take hold during any stage of a plant’s life cycle.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRASSHOPPER FARMS

WRANGLING PESTS Pest pressure differs between indoor and outdoor grows. For example, spider mites are among the most notorious pests in cannabis cultivation. These nearly microscopic arachnids live on the undersides of leaves, piercing individual plant cells to extract essential fluids. If a pest like the spider mite gets inside a clean indoor room, there are no natural weather events or native predators to help keep it in check. Outdoor cultivation, on the other hand, exposes the crop to the natural elements, replacing artificial lighting and mechanical cooling with sunlight and open air. While this drastically reduces energy costs, it leaves the crop vulnerable to large-scale seasonal migrations of pests. However, outdoor grows have a whole army of native beneficial insects collaborating with them. Ladybugs, lacewings, and other predatory insects are naturally present in an outdoor ecosystem. They provide a baseline level of

biological pest suppression that helps keep minor infestations from turning into fullblown crises. Some of the biggest battles outdoors are with migratory pests like leafhoppers and corn earworms that arrive in massive waves, sapping the plant’s vitality. These pests feed on various parts of the cannabis plant and damage its tissue. The physical wounds they leave behind can also create the conditions for bud rot to thrive. “We’ve spent years dialing in our IPM [integrated pest management] program to match the timing of seasonal pest migrations and hatches,” Mastej says. “Beneficial nematodes are a key tool for soil-dwelling pests like screwworms, armyworms, and ants. We also release praying mantises each season. We set out the oothecas in late spring and time their hatch to coincide with aphid pressure, so our mantis army is active right when we need it. “Between the nematodes, the mantises, and a healthy resident population of ladybugs that stick around all season on their own, we can lean on natural predators rather than reactive spraying. It is less about an emergency response and more about building enough biological pressure into the system that the wave attack never fully lands.”

pesticides — especially experimental products — after the fact. “We have noticed recurring trends with a handful of pesticides that repeatedly show up in products,” McMillan says. “Hearing about growers trying out new products, without testing or vetting them, to treat an issue is the most common way we see [testing] failures occur.” The modern cannabis market leaves no room for reactionary pest and disease management. Growers must rely on an integrated pest management framework focused heavily on prevention. McMillan says the use of chemical controls for pests and pathogens should remain a last resort, and growers should consult the Cannabis Regulatory Agency’s list of approved chemicals before applying any. “Know what you are spraying before you start playing chemical roulette,” McMillan says. “Cultivators who prioritize best practices, stay initiative-taking, and implement preventative measures before problems occur will see success. And if you need support, reach out to us.”

Below: Grasshopper Farms releases praying mantises each season, timing their hatch to coincide with aphid pressure. Here they are, finding their footing on the leaves before getting to work.

KEEPING IT NATURAL This form of pest management works far better than simply using

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