DETROIT - On Nov. 25, the Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel heard oral arguments regarding two lawsuits filed by cannabis industry activists seeking to block a 24 percent whole cannabis tax approved in October by the Michigan legislature to fund road improvements. The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, representing hundreds of Michigan cannabis companies,
ANN ARBOR - Gauging the health of Michigan’s economy was difficult even before the federal government shutdown interfered with key data releases. The two key measures of employment, from the payroll and household surveys, have generally trended in opposite directions this year. Preliminary data suggests a large downward revision is in store for Michigan’s payroll
ANN ARBOR - The University of Michigan’s Annual Economic Outlook Conference predicts the jagged pattern of quarterly growth rates results in calendar year 2026 growth averaging 2.4 percent and just 2 percent growth in 2027. The report also said annualized pace of real GDP growth in 2025Q3 to come in around 3.1 percent thanks to robust
COLUMBUS - Ohio lawmakers passed a bill last week that would ban intoxicating hemp products and make changes to the state’s marijuana laws by a 52-34 to margin sending S.B. 56 to the senate The Ohio Senate has session scheduled for Dec. 9 and Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said he is confident the
WASHINGTON DC - The Justice Department is investigating possible issues with the mortgage fraud investigation into California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff that is run by two Trump administration political appointees, Ed Martin and Bill Pulte. Bill Pulte is the grandson of William J. Pulte, founder of Pulte Homes, the company grew from its early roots
LANSING - The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, representing hundreds of Michigan cannabis companies, will make oral arguments next week to try and stop the Michigan Treasury from assessing a 24 percent wholesale tax on cannabis sales. The MiCIA is asking for a preliminary injunction. The tax is scheduled to be collected Jan. 1, 2026. The
COLUMBUS - Ohio leaders are debating whether or not to comply with a federal ban on "intoxicating hemp" products. "It's not fair," said Meredith Farrow, owner of hemp business Clean Remedies in Avon, told News 5 Cleveland. Hemp sellers like Farrow were surprised by the Senate. When voting to open the government, policymakers closed a
GRAND RAPIDS — A report by a Grand Valley State University researcher shows West Michigan’s economy has remained flat but stable through October as the federal tariffs continue to challenge businesses. Brian Long, director of supply management research at GVSU’s Seidman College of Business, said businesses and purchasing managers are still adjusting to the ongoing
LANSING — Michigan regulators on Thursday adopted landmark standards for the booming data center industry with a plan they say tries to protect residents from subsidizing the industry’s hefty energy use. In a 3-0 vote, the Michigan Public Service Commission adopted a rate structure that requires data centers and other energy-intensive industries in Consumers Energy’s territory
COLUMBUS - Regulated cannabis interests are celebrating the end of the Farm Bill “loophole” that launched the massive nationwide market for intoxicating hemp THC products. But what happens if lawmakers and business leaders at the state level simply ignore the ban? According to Columbus-based ABC-5, that’s the question now being asked openly in Ohio, where regulated marijuana
