MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUK) — A handful of cannabis dispensaries and the city of Menominee, Michigan are involved in an intense legal battle.
Three of the city’s five pot businesses were shut down by court order last Friday.
As police were forcing cannabis store Higher Love to shut down, Angela Belling was nearby watching it all go down.
“I was curious because that’s my favorite one. I go there all the time,” said Belling.
Higher Love is one of three Menominee dispensaries forced to close under a judge’s temporary restraining order. The others are Nirvana Center and Lume Cannabis Company.
Two pot shops remain open: Rize and The Fire Station.
“As soon as Lume opened, all cars from Wisconsin were four wide, probably 40 cars, and all the other dispensaries were empty,” said James Nyland of Menominee, Michigan.
James Nyland says customers started lining up at Rize and Fire Station the night the other dispensaries were shut down.
“There was probably 20 cars at each one, so they’re getting their business back since they’ve been shut down,” said Nyland.
Michigan legalized marijuana in 2019.
In 2021, the city of Menominee awarded marijuana retail permits to Rize and Fire Station.
The dispensaries that weren’t awarded permits sued, but eventually were given permits under