Sensi Michigan December 2021

CANNABUTTER DO IT? Elevate your dessert game

MICHIGAN DECEMBER 2021

VIBES OF VEGAS

Recapping MJBiz Con in photos

SOBER SIPS The buzz around buzz-free alcohol

HO HO…OH NO!

Last-minute gift guide

Bleised Edibles For Work & For Play

@bleised @bleisededibles www.bleisededibles.com (269) 532-1250

Bléised (/blaz/ed) THC Gummies are available in a variety of assorted flavors from Cherry to Bléised Smoothie. Find the perfect dose for work... and for play. Each Bléised edible contains 2mg of THC with 10 pieces per pack; 20mg per pack.

INTRODUCING THE CEREAL MILK SERIES

MICHIGAN SENSI MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021

sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag

29

FEATURES

38

52

Thriving in Vegas

Sensi took the Strip by storm during MJBizCon. Here’s a roundup of everything that went down and photos from everything you might have missed.

Woke Not Wasted

They say they’re not alcoholics, and they’re certainly not anonymous.

What is sober curious—and can sobriety really be fluid?

DEPARTMENTS

17 EDITOR’S NOTE 26 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 18 THE BUZZ PIE IN THE SKY This News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop LARDNER THE GARDNER

Meet a poet with a green thumb.

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD Whitmer bill aims

to allow ex-cons to sell cannabis.

THE GREEN HOUSE Big news on legalization coming from Biden.

GET OUT THERE Here’s where to find adventure, shopping, and food in Michigan this month.

CANNABIS IS COMMON

Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman speak up for weed.

infused pie crust recipe will elevate your dessert game.

CONTAINING THE TROPICS

Easy-breezy houseplants add an instant island vibe.

60 THE SCENE

Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town

ON THE COVER

Sobriety is best served neat. See page 52.

PHOTOS VIA ADOBE STOCK

SENSI’S LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE Gifts so good

they’ll think you spent a year planning them.

64 THE END Enjoy our four recommendations on how to best celebrate the winter solstice.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

11

ADVISORY BOARD

NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD NCRMA Risk Management COLORADO Agricor Laboratories Testing Lab Aspen Cannabis Insurance Insurance Services Canyon Cultivation Microdosing Cartology Corporation Cartridge Filling Equipment + Hardware Colorado Cannabis Company THC Coffee Concentrate Supply Co. Recreational Concentrates Emerald Construction Construction Green Edge Trimmers Trimmers Higher Grade Boutique Cannabis Hybrid Payroll Staffing & HR Benefits Jupiter Research Inhalation Hardware Lab Society Extraction Expert + Lab Supplies marQaha Sublinguals + Beverages Monte Fiore Farms Recreational Cultivation Northern Standard History of Cannabis PotGuide Cannabis Culture Source CO Wholesale Consulting Terrapin Care Station Recreational Dispensary Toast Mindful Consumption Uleva Hemp Products Wana Brands Edibles Witlon Inc. Payroll Processing

MICHIGAN Aronoff Law (Craig Aronoff) Licensing Law Firm Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm Etz Chaim Attestations Grapp Lerash Accounting/CPA Services Great Lakes Natural Remedies Lakeshore: Provisioning Center Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build MRB Solutions Human Resources Northern Specialty Health Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center Oh, Hello Branding Promotional Marketing Perry & Drummy Inc. Commercial Insurance Pure West Compassion Club Caregiver Connection & Network Rair Medical Flower Solutions by Dr. Dave West Michigan: Hemp CBD Helping Friendly Hemp Company Hemp Topicals NEVADA Eden Water Technologies Water System Technologies Green Leaf Money Canna Business Finanacing GreenHouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing Ideal Business Partners Corporate Law & Finance Jupiter Research Inhalatation Hardware Matrix NV Premium Live Resin Red Rock Fertility Fertility Doctor Rokin Vapes Vape Technology This Stuff Is Good For You CBD Bath and Body

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 365 Recreational Cannabis Dispensary: Recreational, Santa Rosa Green Unicorn Farms CBD Hemp Flower Humboldt Grow Tech Smart Ag Tech Red Door Remedies Dispensary: Cloverdale Southern Humboldt Royal Cannabis Company Mixed Light Farming Sonoma Patient Group Dispensary: Santa Rosa Strictly Topical Inc./Sweet ReLeaf Pain Relief Topicals Uleva Hemp Products Vaper Tip Vape Supply & Consulting Wana Brands Edible Gummies SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Accucanna LLC Desert Hot Springs: Dispensary EventHI Events Flourish Software Distribution Management Helmand Valley Growers Company Medical Infrastructure Specialist HUB International Insurance Hybrid Payroll / Ms. Mary Staffing Staffing & HR Benefits Ikänik Farms Cannabis Distribution Red Rock Fertility Fertility Doctor Wana Brands Edible Gummies Witlon Payroll

NEW ENGLAND Corners Packaging Packaging Green Goddess Supply Personal Homegrown Biochamber The Holistic Center Medical Marijuana Evaluations Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary Royal Gold Soil Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations Vantage Builders Construction

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

13

Cannabis Done Right Whether it’s our expert budtenders or unique loyalty program, we strive to create a welcoming environment that makes cannabis approachable for all.

Tawas | Lansing | Kalkaska | thebotanical.co

EDITORIAL

Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder + Editor in Chief stephanie.wilson@sensimag.com Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor Tracy Ross Managing Editor, Michigan Emilie-Noelle Provost Managing Editor, New England Debbie Hall Managing Editor, Spark Jenny Willden Managing Editor, California Will Brendza Managing Editor, Colorado Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large Radha Marcum Copy Editor Bevin Wallace Copy Editor

EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder ron@sensimag.com Stephanie Graziano CEO stephanie.graziano@sensimag.com ADVERTISING

Toni Tardif National Sales Director Jade Kolb Director Sales Operations and Global Recruiting PUBLISHING

Jamie Cooper Market Director, Michigan Richard Guerra Market Director, New England

DESIGN

Nancy Birnbaum Market Director, NorCal

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak Designer Josh Clark Designer

Diana Ramos Market Director, Oklahoma

BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Richard Guerra Director of Global Reach Amanda Patrizi Director of Marketing Neil Willis Production Director MEDIA PARTNERS

Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Nancy Reid Market Director, Florida MEDIA SALES

COLORADO Liana Cameris Media Sales Executive Amanda Patrizi Media Sales Executive Tyler Tarr Media Sales Executive FLORIDA Anthony Mckenzie Media Sales Executive NEVADA Pam Hewitt Media Sales Executive NEW ENGLAND Jake Boynton Media Sales Executive MICHIGAN Eric Lutey Media Sales Executive Kyle Miller Media Sales Executive Leah Stephens Media Sales Executive

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

15

T

EDITOR’S NOTE

Magazine published monthly

by Sensi Media Group LLC.

© 2021 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.

’Tis the season for

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FAC E B O O K Like Sensi Media Group to infuse your newsfeed with more of our great cannabis lifestyle content.

TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

I N S TAG R A M Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: find it all on @sensimagazine

giving and giving back,

and as such, it’s making me realize I do too little of either. This means I’m a bad example for my children. And that’s strange, because for the entire time my older kids, now 19 and 20, were growing up, the one rule we had in our home was “give a little, get a lot.” As in, “do the bare minimum, youngsters, and we’ll give you the world.”

I guess the good news is that now that those two are grown, they do a lot of giving.

My eldest, Scout, always remembers my birthday (whereas I often “forget” my own mother’s, or, more accurately, wait until I have time to buy her a birthday present); my middle child, Hatcher, gives the best hugs of anyone around, the kind where you (the hugged) try to let go, and he (the hugger) keeps holding on. I guess my vow this holiday season, then, should be to remember others whether I “have the time” or not, and the next time someone I love wants a cuddle, hold on for a few beats longer than they do—unless, of course, it’s awkward.

The season also ushers in a time when the cannabis community gives back, and it fascinates me how much it does given how relatively young it is. I love this industry’s focus on expungement and other social equity issues. I love how welcoming it is to people like me, the canna-curious. And I love how passionately everyone in the community speaks for and about growing, sharing, and creating common good. I’d love it if all industries could give as much and as freely as the canna-community does. No doubt the world would be a better place if they did.

So I guess my point is, do what you can for others this holiday season, whether it’s large or seemingly insignificant. Kind deeds benefit all of us. And to all, a bright, merry holiday season.

Do what you can for others this holiday season, whether it’s large or seemingly insignificant.

Kind deeds benefit all of us.

Tracy Ross @writertracyross

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

17

Three Questions With Gardener Poet Emily Lardner As a northerner, how do you satiate your need for greenery in the winter?

I baby my houseplants and treat myself to fresh-cut flowers each week. Costco and Trader Joe’s are my go-tos for affordable arrangements. I decorate my evergreens with nets of sparkling LEDs that I leave on till May. And I give myself color to look forward to: in the fall, I plant aconite, crocus, iris, snowdrop 18

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

bulbs—those will come up and bloom right through the snow.

It’s Christmastime. What’s the best plant-flower combo we can give 1) our romantic partner, 2) someone with the wintertime blues, and 3) a kid in our life?

All lovers deserve flowers. But don’t just hand them

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARDNER THE GARDENER

Emily Lardner of Troy says that studying poetry led her to the great outdoors, where she found her place in the world. She also owns Lardner the Gardener, a full-service gardening business, which has taught her a green perspective on the world.

CONTRIBUTOR

Tracy Ross

Whitmer’s House Bill Evens the Playing Field for Ex-Convicts Wanting 54 to Sell Cannabis PERCENT

PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF LARDNER THE GARDENER; CITY OF DETROIT

BY THE NUMBERS

a bouquet in plastic. Instead, find a dope vase at your local thrift shop, clip the stems at a 45 degree angle, and remove any leaves that will be below the water line. Refill that vase for special occasions all year. Wintertime blues call for bulletproof indoor plants like pothos, aglaonema, or sansevieria. For children, gift zinnia seeds to sow in spring and a pair of kid-sized garden gloves.

You studied creative writing and literature at the University of Michigan.

Any authors/poets/playwrights you love in the gardening realm that we should read?

An appreciation of nature isn’t complete without poet Mary Oliver, the OG of modern nature poetry. Her poems will mend and break your heart—often at the same time. Try “Wild Geese,” “The Summer Day,” and “Rain.”

Number of Republicans polled by public-opinion research company Rasmussen Reports who claim to back legalization of marijuana. That’s compared to 68 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of those who said they had an “other” political affiliation.

$85 BILLION Amount the U.S. marijuana industry will generate by 2030, according to investment analysts

9

Percentage of adults aged 50 to 64 reporting marijuana use in 2020, according to a study by New York University.

That’s double the number who reported using in 2010.

Meanwhile, use by adults 65 and older has increased seven times during the same period to nearly 3 percent.

On November 4th, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that should have made a lot of cannabis advocates happy. So-called HB HB 4295 saves folks with marijuana-related felony or misdemeanor convictions on their record from disqualification when they try to obtain a medical cannabis business license.

That’s a lot of word salad in one sentence but like a good Caesar with anchovies, it’s all positive.

Under the newly enacted law, regulators “may no longer consider the integrity, moral character, reputation, or personal probity of an applicant in evaluating eligibility for licensure.” Additionally, spouses of people who’ve applied for marijuana operating licenses are eligible to get licensed “unless the spouse’s position created a conflict of interest, was within the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA), or a state or federal regulatory body making decisions regarding medical marijuana.”

Advocates think the change is good for the cannabis community, because it makes obtaining business opportunities more inclusive for those negatively impacted by the drug war. “I just wish it had happened earlier," said one.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

19

THE BUZZ

HOW THE BILITIES WHITE HOUSE

BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

1 CANNABIS is America’s fifth most valuable crop, earning more for farmers than cotton or rice, according to a new report from Leafly Holdings, Inc.

IS CONTINUING TO FREE WEED There is big cannabis news from Capitol Hill.

2 A NEW STUDY FROM HEADSET, a Seattle-based cannabis research firm, found that Gen Z is the fastest-growing segment of the cannabis-buying public, with a sales surge of 127 percent in 2020.

3 MASSACHUSETTS RECREATIONAL SALES have surpassed $2 billion in less than three years since the first legal sale there.

4 ONE IN FOUR ADULTS in the US. currently smokes cannabis— or at least has tried it in the last 12 months, according to a study by yougov.org.

5 SIXTY-FOUR PERCENT OF CANNABIS CONSUMERS believe that if more people embraced the herb, the world would be “a better place.” So says that same yougov.org study.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREEN FUND

6 POINT IS, people like pot. And I like alliterations. That’s all.

I don’t smoke marijuana, man.

Marijuana is a girl from Cuba. Ganja is a bird from Australia.

I smoke herb.”

—Peter Tosh

1. Biden’s infrastructure bill is going to let researchers study the actual marijuana being grown in dispensaries (instead of government-controlled weed grows). Yay! 2. Democratic lawmakers in Congress continue to push for federal legalization.

Woo! 3. Democrats and Republicans approved a defense-spending bill that includes protections for banks that work with state-legal cannabis businesses. Booty slap!

4. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee passed a bill in November to direct the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct a series of clinical trials on the medical benefits of marijuana for military veterans with PTSD and chronic pain.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

21

Rematch.

Win either way with Sozo flower, pre-rolls, or concentrates.

Find our products at Sozo stores and select retailers throughout Michigan.

SOZO_FAM Ŝ SOZOLIFE.COM

Give your finances room to grow.

(989) 327-1400 | GrappLerash.com

22

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

THE BUZZ

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) COURTESY OF MICHIGAN ICE FEST, SUN’N SNOW OUTDOOR SHOP, PEARL’S NEW ORLEANS KITCHEN

PLAYBOOK

There’s only one right way to explore Michigan, and that’s like the locals do. Here’s where you should adventure, shop, and eat in December.

EXPLORE

Michigan Ice Fest Start planning now to head to Munising for the 30th annual Michigan Ice Fest, held February 9 through 13. You can take a course or clinic, led by one of the United States’ best alpinists/ice climbers; talk gear with a manufacturer’s sales rep; have a drink with a pro athlete; or venture beyond the clinic to do some of your own ice climbing, which is prolific around Munising. Just come prepared for anything— snow, wind, and, of course, ice. downwindsports.com/icefest

EAT

Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen There’s no food like Creole food to warm the bones on an iced-over winter day, so head to Pearl’s, in Elk City, and get sweaty with a menu that includes gator and crawfish, plus Louisiana beers and cool cocktails. We’re stoked for the starters, which include Andouille, Grits & Greens (in one dish), and other specialties like the SHOP Corn Fried Whitefish Muffuletta and the Sun’n Snow Outdoor Shop Bayou Alligator, served with remoulade Based in Cadillac, Sun’n Snow is a for dipping. two-generation family-owned operation that’s been in business for over 60 years. magnumhospitality.com/pearls Drop in to find all of the winter soft- and hardgoods you need to alpine ski, Nordic ski, snowboard, or snowshoe. They have a kids’ trade-in program, which reduces the cost of keeping junior on skis. And their custom boot-fitting operation assures that your feet will never be the reason you head off the hill early—it’ll be the headache you get from sipping on your Bota bag between runs. sunsnowskishop.com D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

23

Automotive industry manufacturer for 60 years, helping bring your Cannabis smoking utensil ideas to market.

We provide full-service accounting, advisory and income tax services to the Cannabis Industry and those ancillary to the industry.

We are here to navigate you through the complex tax and accounting issues related to Cannabis.

Scott & Itoh Machine Co. 31690 Stephenson Highway, Madison Heights, MI 48071, United States https://www.scott-itoh.com/

24

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

THE BUZZ

VOX POPULI

Question: It’s almost New Years Resolution time, but before then, what’s the one habit you WON’T be giving up in 2022?

TONY DENIM

JEANETTE STAWSKI

JAMIE WOLTER

Professional Photographer, Traverse City

Executive Director at Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, Ann Arbor

Excavation Project Manager, Muskegon

___________________

I won’t be giving up my drive to whip multiple sclerosis’s ass when it whispers to me to just slow down, take it easy, and accept the diagnosis.

___________________

I’m not giving up my work on me, for me.

___________________

I won’t be giving up my gym, fitness, weight-lifting habits. The older I get, the more important fitness becomes, and it’s also great for my mental health.

CONNIE MAXIM SPARROW

HEATHER BURCAR PIETRYKOWSKI

Cannabis Business Consultant, Muskegon

Owner, BlueBird Marketing, Farmington Hills

___________________

___________________

I will not be giving up my full commitment to ensuring this industry in Michigan continues to thrive with equitable pathways to cannabis entrepreneurship.

I won’t be giving up my sisu, a Finnish concept described as having stoic determination or tenacity of purpose.

The English translation is having guts or grit.

Legalization’s Latest Champions: Comedy’s King and Queen

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBSTONER.COM

Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman fight for the commonality of cannabis.

When it comes to cannabis, legalization is no laughing matter. Even so, in early November, comedians Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman took to the world stage in a campaign to legalize cannabis nationwide by putting pressure on Congress from constituents who haven’t always made themselves heard: cannabis users. “Legalizing cannabis is long past due, and if we make enough noise, we can make it happen,” says Rogan, cofounder of the cannabis company, Houseplant, which claims its cannabis is “triple curated” through the company’s “commitment to sourcing the industry’s leading cultivators, the best genetics, and the highest quality nugs from each batch.” Meanwhile, Silverman has joked often about

getting high with her parents and is known for promoting gender equity in the cannabis industry.

The name of the Hollywood bigwigs’ campaign is “Cannabis is Common,” and in a tweet on November 9, Rogan told followers, “The American people have cannabis in common. It’s time for Congress to join us.”

For more information, check out @Cannabis_Voter and @HeadCountOrg.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

25

This infused pie crust recipe will elevate your dessert game.

26

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

PHOTO BY BRENT HOFACKER VIA ADOBE STOCK

Pie in the Sky

According to the experts at San Diego’s March and Ash cannabis dispensary, cannabis is an extremely versatile plant, and one easy way to unlock its powerful effects is baking with cannabutter. Butter that has been infused with cannabis flower, also called “cannabutter,” is a simple do-it-yourself way to prepare edibles at home. Cannabutter has many uses in cooking, including cookies, sandwiches, desserts, and pasta.

Read on for a recipe to make your own cannabutter, which can then be incorporated into a pie crust recipe for the holidays … or really any time that’s appropriate for pie, which is the same as saying any time at all.

Cannabutter

Makes about 16 servings / Recipe from March and Ash / marchandash.com

INGREDIENTS

10 grams flower

1 cup unsalted butter

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 245°F. Place 10 grams of flower on a parchment-lined oven tray. Bake for 40 minutes. Rake the flower after 15 minutes to ensure even heating.

Coarsely grind baked bud into a slow cooker set to low (under 200°F). Add the unsalted butter, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes. Cook for 3 hours on low.

Allow to cool for a few minutes, and strain into jar or container using cheesecloth and a funnel. Refrigerate until ready to use in recipe.

Potency The exact potency of made-at-home cannabutter will depend on many factors. No two batches will be exactly the same. You may want to test your final product by spreading ¼ teaspoon on some toast and wait two to three hours to see how that batch affects you. Use that as a dosage barometer and increase or decrease the amount used in each recipe as desired.

Cannabutter Pie Crust Makes 1 pie crust

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2⁄3 cup cannabutter (see

recipe above) 5–7 tablespoons cold water 1 egg white

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) BY ALONA, 2GREENEYES VIA ADOBE STOCK

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine flour and cannabutter into a mixing bowl. Use a knife to cut the cannabutter into the flour.

Add salt and water, mixing until a dough forms. If not using immediately, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

If ready to make your pie, roll out dough on a flat surface, between two pieces of lightly floured parchment paper.

Shape into a 9-inch pie pan, leaving a half inch of dough overhanging. Pinch overhang around edge of the pan and brush the dough with the egg white. Let chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Fill your pie with your favorite filling: pumpkin, apple, pecan, or even a refreshing fruit blend—baker’s choice.

Bake according to pie recipe instructions D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

27

THE LIFE GARDEN

Containing the Tropics PHOTO BY NEW AFRICA, ADOBE STOCK

Baby it’s cold outside, but these easy-breezy houseplants can add an instant island vibe to your home no matter what’s happening out there. TEXT DIANE BLACKFORD

Your dreams for a Caribbean getaway this year get dashed by a pandemic that closed the country’s borders, too?

While it’s not quite the same as frolicking on sugary soft beaches flanked by palm trees and lapped by shimmering turquoise waters, I’ve done my best to turn my apartment into a tropical oasis with

palm trees and verdant foliage growing out of every available space. You can do the same, and I highly encourage it. Plants provide oxygen, clean the air, and are shown to elevate levels of happiness. Not to mention if you get enough of them growing, you’ll raise the humidity in your place—something everyone needs. Trust me,

your hair, skin, sinuses, too can grow some palm and more will thank you trees a mile high. for adding more moisture Everyone can be a to the air. tropical gardener, and My apartment’s large thanks to the housesouthern-facing windows plant-crazed millennials deserve a lot of credit for demanding more—and helping to transform an more exotic—greenery empty apartment into to grow in their homes, a lush landscape, no it’s easier than ever to doubt. But even if your cultivate a true island place rarely sees any divibe indoors—even in rect sunlight at all, you the coldest of climates.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

29

Now Open

I N 4 G R EAT LO CAT I O NS BATTLE CREEK

725 MAIN STREET • BATTLE CREEK, MI 49014

EDWARDSBURG 69411 M-62 • EDWARDSBURG, MI 49112

DAILY SPECIALS & MORE!

BENTON HARBOR

107 WATER STREET BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022

MUSKEGON

1401 E APPLE AVE • MUSKEGON, MI 49442

NOBO, a vertically integrated cannabis company dedicated to bringing Michigan the highest quality cannabis products and services.

NOBOGOODS.COM

YOUR VERTICALLY INTEGRATED DIGITAL MARKETING PLATFORM WeedStreetNOW is the preferred digital marketing partner in the cannabis industry. Our platform offers you the full spectrum of digital marketing including but not limited to local activation, social media, digital advertising, website creation, and new format ads. With years of digital marketing expertise in the automotive industry WSN has transformed the automotive know how to the cannabis industry. Our team is dedicated to delivering you results, providing transparency, being accountable and growing with our partners.

YOUR CANNABIS LAW ATTORNEY PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY & DELIVERING RESULTS At Aronoff Law we simplify the complexity of regulations to ensure your cannabis business is protected.

Representing individuals and businesses with licensing, compliance, real estate and business formation under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act and the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.

OUR SPECIALTIES Cannabusiness Licensing, Compliance, Advocacy & Real Estate LEARN MORE AT CRAIGARONOFFLAW.COM

LEARN MORE AT WEEDSTREETNOW.COM

30

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

Law Offices of Craig A Aronoff, PLLC 1212 South Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48067 (248) 808-6351

THE LIFE GARDEN

PHOTOS VIA ADOBE STOCK

(Fun fact: the fifth-coldest temp this country has ever recorded was in Maybell, Colorado, when it dipped to -61°F on February 1, 1985. As I write this, it’s 14 degrees outside and the temps are falling into the single digits tomorrow, making Denver one of the coldest places in the country right now.)

“It may be a little tricky at times, but adding that special warmth and color to your home definitely can be done,” confirms Andrea Haywood, a certified master gardener from South Florida.

While Jack Frost is not a friend to most greenery native to climates where temperatures hover above 75°F, we’ve rounded up some of the easiest tropical plants that you can

grow indoors all year long. You can find these varieties and others like them at your local garden center, where the staff can

help you pick out the right its uncanny resemblance type for your home’s light to the feathered creature and offer tips to help you with the same name. care for the tropical trans- The unusual shape of its plant. So take your green flowers makes the plant thumbs out of your gloves a superb conversation and get growing on your starter that adds a welown tropical paradise. come burst of color to any household where it Bird of Paradise (above) blooms, which doesn’t happen without a TON This colorful plant species got its moniker from of natural sunlight. But even without the namesake flower, the large plant adds a ton of tropical flair to any room, thanks to its glossy leaves fanning out.

Bromeliad (left) There are over 3,000 species within this standout family of tropical plants. Most have bold leaves that are often colorful, but many bromeliads’ most distinguishing characteristic is an exotic flower spike. Given the long-lasting blooms D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

31

32

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

THE LIFE GARDEN

Dracaena Marginata (below) Often called the dragon tree, the spiky houseplant is native to Africa.

The tricolor cultivar, also known as the rainbow plant, adds an instant island vibe to any household with its pink, cream, and yellow stripes on narrow, green leaves.

Hibiscus (left) Huge, dramatic blooms up to eight inches in and ornamental foliage, among the easiest to grow, diameter add terrific you may assume these and you can find varietsplashes of color (albeare high-maintenance ies in all shapes and sizes it short-lived) to this houseplants, but you’d be with different preferences shrub. It needs plenty of mistaken. They tend to be for light and heat. water and well-drained

soil to survive, and it needs lots of sunlight to bloom, which it can do from late spring through fall in the right conditions. You can find versions with flowers in a dizzying array of colors, making it easy to match your home’s color palette. If you don’t have bright, direct sunlight, don’t let that stop you from adding this stunner to your collection. Keep it indoors during the winter then move it to the balcony or porch when it warms up outside to enjoy its seasonal blooms.

PHOTOS VIA ADOBE STOCK

EDITOR’S CHOICE: PONYTAIL PALM The cascading curls flowing from the top of this plant just make it seem like all sorts of bubbly fun. It’s technically a succulent, not a palm tree, but we won’t tell if you don’t. A native of the dry desert states of eastern Mexico, it does well in low humidity, and its bulbous base stores water like a camel’s hump, making it a good choice for people who tend to neglect their plants.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

33

Helping your business in a growing industry For nearly a century, Union Bank has worked hard for the hard-working people who make, build and grow for a living. We strive to be the preferred business partner for the cannabis industry and its support vendors by providing convenient deposit services, secure payments and exceptional service.

Contact Us Today!

Edith Farrell Cannabis Banking Officer Email: efarrell@ubmich.com Phone: (616) 374-1520

Michigan-Based Investment Bankers to the Cannabis Industry Advisory Service Offerings Include: -Transactional Strategy & Execution -Debt Fundraisings & Recapitalizations

+ TreeTownCannabis.com 34

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

-Equity Fundraisings & Recapitalizations -Acquisitions of Companies (Buy Side) -Divestitures of Companies (Sell Side) Mac Gerlach, Managing Director, Mac@greenren.net 415-596-3127 www.greenren.net

RSO IS NOW AVAILABLE: HIGH

QUALITY,

SINGLE

SOURCE

AND

STRAIN

SPECIFIC

T H E O N LY C A N N A B I S C O M PA N Y T H AT D E D I C AT E S 1 0 % O F PR OC E E DS TO R IG H TIN G T H E WR O N G S O F PR O H I B I T I O N

GRMAG.COM

36

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

Want to Learn More?

Contact Jessica Laidlaw At jlaidlaw@grmag.com or 616.401.8703

P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E N O R T H E R N S P E C I A LT Y H E A LT H P R O V I S I O N I N G C E N T E R

Community Values Northern Specialty Health is a cannabis shop that puts the needs of customers and employees first.

L

ocated near the top of the Upper Peninsula, the city of Houghton looks out for its own. A sense of community pervades its streets. There are numerous festivals throughout the year and neighbors here know each other. That feeling—of oneness, of belonging—is at the core of Northern Specialty Health Provisioning Center (NSH), one of Michigan’s legacy cannabis retailers.

Founded in 2013 by Ryan and Penny Milkey, the store is a direct reflection of the couple’s passion for sharing the healing powers of cannabis, something they both know quite well.

In 2007, Ryan was in a terrible ATV accident, leaving him with a broken neck

the store and staff can spend days working with the community to help them find the right products.

The Milkeys are so dedicated to their neighbors that they pay their employees a living wage and offer them deep discounts on products to ensure they fully understand them.

NSH offers daily deals and a loyalty program that gives five cents of every dollar back to the customers.

“We believe cannabis helps people, and that’s why we do what we do,” says Penny Milkey.

By offering the finest cannabis products on the market, NSH can take care of its community one day at a time.

and back along with several shattered ribs. Luckily, he was able to regain the ability to walk but was saddled with debilitating pain. That led to an addiction to the opioids prescribed, supposedly, to help him, not hurt him.

That, coupled with the fact that both he and his wife were alcoholics, put them in a bad place.

When Michigan voters approved medical marijuana in 2008, everything changed. Cannabis saved the Milkey’s lives. It allowed them to leave behind the issues that had been plaguing them.

These days, NSH focuses on educating the public about the redempNorthern Specialty Health tive properties of cannabis and all of Provisioning Center the positives it offers. By serving both Cannabis Retailer the medical and recreational markets, northernspecialtyhealth.com

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

37

NOT DOWN AND OUT BUT

THRIV IN LAS VEGAS T

he Las Vegas cannabis vibe was off the charts during the week-long 10th annual MJBizCon, the largest cannabis trade show in the industry. Sensi had a prominent presence during the convention, including hosting one of the hottest parties, Sensi’s Sunset Soirée at The Strat. Guests enjoyed the Las Vegas sunset 108 floors above the Strip with unlimited cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, thrill rides, and an all-around

38

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

excellent networking experience.

The next evening, the sold-out Zodiac Party rocked the entire night as partygoers celebrated.

Down the street, Sapphire Las Vegas, the world’s largest gentlemen’s club and adult entertainment complex, hosted an evening filled with unforgettable 4-20–inspired décor and entertainment with an open bar. Platinum recording artist and rap sensation Mike Jones, infamous for anthems like “Still Tippin” and “Back Then,” performed as

guests reveled in cannabis couture.

During the day, Daymond John—co-star of ABC’s Shark Tank and founder/CEO of Fubu— amped up attendees as the keynote speaker of MJBiz, while over 1,000 cannabis industry suppliers made deals on the expo floor. MJ Unpacked brought together passionate cannabis retailers, THC CPG brands, and accredited investors.

It was quite the week for all who attended! Sensi Media Group looks forward to 2022.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF OF SENSI MAGAZINE

TEXT DEBBIE HALL

VING D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

39

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF OF SENSI MAGAZINE

MJ BIZ, MJ UNPACKED WHERE: LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER WHEN: OCT. 19-22, 2021

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

41

www.northernspecialtyhealth.com | 906-523-5122

42

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF OF SENSI MAGAZINE

MJ BIZ, MJ UNPACKED WHERE: LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER WHEN: OCT. 19-22, 2021

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

43

CANNABIS COUNSEL® AMERICAS FIRST CANNABIS LAW FIRM

Join America’s Fastest Growing Industry Today!

Set up your consultation at CannabisCounsel.com (313) 446-2235

MMFLA & MRTMA Licensing Experts CANNABIS BUSINESS LAW MARIJUANA FACILITY LICENSE APPLICATIONS, APPEALS, COMPLIANCE

LOCAL PERMITS & ZONING BALLOT INITIATIVES LOCAL GOV. ADVOCACY CRIMINAL DEFENSE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Call us for your consultation today!

(313) 446-2235

)

44

CannabisCounsel.com

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

EXPERIENCE W H AT M A K E S U S

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF OF SENSI MAGAZINE

SENSI’S SUNSET SOIRÉE AT THE STRAT, AFTERPARTY AT MEOW WOLF, ZODIAC PARTY WHERE: THE STRAT, THE SPACE ON INDUSTRY, SAPPHIRE LAS VEGAS, AREA15, MANDALAY BAY RESORT AND CASINO WHEN: OCT. 19-22, 2021

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

45

from your Local Banking Team!

Take the High Road with Cannabus!

Cannabus Detroit is the newest concept to hit the streets. We are the only company offering unique tour experiences.

In addition, we rent out our bus as a stationary smoke spot.

“When you can’t puff inside, call us and use our ride!”

Contact us today to learn how we can provide you Fast and Secure Banking!

NPerry@dartbank.com

(517) 883-9260

586-960-5453 @cannabusdetroit_ www.cannabusdetroit.com

Now open in Muskegon for medical and recreational!

2125 Lemuel Street Stop in and see what we are all about

46

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF OF SENSI MAGAZINE; PHOTO OF MIKE JONES BY CHUCK SICUSO/SAPPHIRE LAS VEGAS

SENSI’S SUNSET SOIRÉE AT THE STRAT, AFTERPARTY AT MEOW WOLF, ZODIAC PARTY WHERE: THE STRAT, THE SPACE ON INDUSTRY, SAPPHIRE LAS VEGAS, AREA15, MANDALAY BAY RESORT AND CASINO WHEN: OCT. 19-22, 2021

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

47

P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E RAIR

Building Real Community This vertical dispensary is making a difference.

S

ince marijuana became fully legal in 2019, the cannabis space continues to expand in Michigan and the options for consumers have never been better.

New grow facilities and dispensaries continually come online, each offering something different than their competitors. But it can be difficult to discern who actually is a positive community member through all the noise. That’s why you should look to RAIR for all your cannabis needs.

RAIR is a vertical operation that controls the supply chain from seed to sale. That means that you can trust each of its award-winning products—flower, edibles, vape cartridges, and more—to deliver the effects it promises each and

two more are planned for opening this year in Lowell and Kalamazoo to further meet the needs of RAIR’s neighbors.

This focus on the community is why RAIR refused to participate in any of the negative attacks being launched against the caregiver industry across the state. RAIR believes that everyone deserves a place at the cannabis table.

“We feel that one of the main reasons that the cannabis industry even exists in Michigan is due to the work of the caregivers,” says Patrick Frakes, RAIR’s chief operating officer.

“They were the trailblazers who laid the foundation for legal cannabis and should be treated with respect. We support them fully.”

You rarely see a company in any industry working so hard to partner with its consumers. From cultivating the next cannabis industry leaders to providing an exceptional product, RAIR is trying to be different.

every time. RAIR has won in every competition it has entered in Michigan with two first place finishes. Quality is the primary objective when it comes to both product and community interaction.

One of the main reasons for RAIR’s success over the last two years is its commitment to diversity and inclusion across all facets of its business.

Women lead each of its divisions, and over 65% of RAIR’s staff are women.

Bringing people of color into leadership roles is a primary focus, and recently several BIPOC employees have been promoted—not because they fit some profile but because of their talents.

This commitment to the community has RAIR gone hand-in-hand with the success of Cannabis Dispensary each of RAIR’s three dispensaries—and rairco.com

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

49

No CRC and always full spectrum

@evopharms

@goldcrown_extracts

www.evopharms.com Search Weedmaps to find Evo Pharms and Gold Crown products in Michigan retailers.

50

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

Black Mamba Gloves...

...A Cut Above The Rest!

Follow us on instagram @theblackmambagloves

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

51

WOKE, NOT WASTED They say they’re not alcoholics, and they’re certainly not anonymous. What is sober curious—and can sobriety really be fluid?

I

drink badly, and I have a lot of fun doing it (when I remember). That’s a lethal combination, and when you throw in my unfortunate discovery of White Claw—I can drink as many as I want and never feel full!—I flamed out with alcohol last winter.

On February 1, just as everyone else was celebrating the end of Dry January and just ahead of the Summer of the Claw, I swore off the seltzer. I figured I’d give myself one month (note: the year’s shortest) to reset. It wasn’t an easy 28 days, but when March 1 rolled around, I felt better than I’d felt in years. The chronic inflammation I had attributed to everything from gluten sensitivity to genetics was

52

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

clearing. I saw the light, and there was no going back.

I thought sobriety would be lonely, that every Saturday night would be Netflix. I forgot the Brett Kavanaugh generation isn’t in charge of culture anymore (thank God).

Millennials and Gen Xers aren’t interested in swilling beer until they black out like we did in the ’80s. Sober is sexy—or, as hipsobriety.com says, “sobriety is the new black.”

On Instagram, there are influencers such as @stylishlysober, @thesoberglow, and the darker @fucking_sober and hashtags like #soberliving, #soberAF, and #sobercurious. Millie Gooch, who posts as @sobergirlsociety,

encourages her nearly 60,000 followers with inspirational messages like “Mocks not cocks” and “Sobriety: a surefire way to improve your wellbeing and your Uber rating.”

Just like that, I’m a cool kid— with a huge range of new options on Saturday night (and beyond).

I’m exploring elixirs made with raw cacao, maca, and horny goat weed at Tonic Herban Lounge just a few blocks from my home in downtown Boulder (I can walk home after imbibing, and it amuses me that I don’t need to). I can do yoga and shake it before dawn at a Daybreaker dance party (daybreaker.com) in Denver, one of 27 cities where the alcohol-free early-morning rave pops up and invites people

PHOTOS VIA ADOBE STOCK

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

53

PHOTO BY ALEX FROM THE ROCK VIA ADOBE STOCK

to “sweat, dance, and connect with ourselves in community.”

I’m surely not alone in this realization that life is better without booze. Worldwide, alcohol consumption fell by 1.6 percent last year. Led by young people, heavy-hitting countries like Russia, Canada, Japan, and the UK are seeing drinking rates as well as tolerance toward intoxication decline. An international survey found that about a third of people wanted to reduce their alcohol intake because of everything from sexual regret and embarrassment to physical health. A 2018 survey found that nearly 40 percent of global consumers want to drink less for health reasons.

In the U.S., CNBC reports, 52 percent of adults are trying to lower their alcohol intake, and

APPS FOR THAT Loosid: Digital platform for sober dating, destinations, and meetups Sober Grid: “The world’s most popular mobile sober community” Twenty-Four Hours a Day: Inspiration through daily meditations

underage drinking has steadily declined in the last 10 years. But only 21 percent of U.S. adults in a CivicScience poll said they had any interest in drinking less or not at all, and most of those were 21- to 34-year-old, vegan-leaning flexitarians who practice yoga and consume cannabis daily.

Women, especially those in their 30s and 40s, are drinking more than ever.

Booze still rules for most Americans, and “increased stress and demoralization” is actually pushing more women, minorities, and poor people to the bot-

tle, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry. The national Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 17 million adults in the U.S. are alcohol dependent, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in six binge drink—defined as drinking four or more drinks over two hours or until blood alcohol reaches 0.08—nearly once a week. For this White Claw guzzler, that definition is, well, sobering. I called that happy hour.

Giving up alcohol isn’t a hashtag for a lot of people. It’s not D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

55

Michigans Premier Cannabis Security Provider Overr66YearssCannabissSecurityyExperience

SE MICHIGAN’S ONLY LICENSED ADULT-USE EVENT PLANNER To plan your cannabis event, please contact: tgrant@cultivatemisolutions.com

dispensary grade Beyond Full S pectrum

thehelpingfriendlysalve.com 56

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

SecurityyanddProtectiveeServicesshass provideddarmed,,unarmeddanddundercoverr guardsstooprovisionaries,,growssandd processinggfacilitiessforr77yearss Weeareeyourrsecurityyteammm wwwwGuardsYouucomm info@guardsyouucom

SPIRITS FOR NEXT-GEN PARTIERS The joke goes that nonalcoholic drinks are like listening to porn on the radio, but times have changed. They’re the CBD of the alcohol world. Nonalcohol (NA) beverages are a bright spot in a declining alcohol market, and their sales are expected to grow 32 percent in 2022, according to a Bon Appetit report. Today’s creative, health-inducing craft beverages are a lot more than just alcohol-free.

BEER Athletic IPA: Robust alcohol-free craft brew Heineken OO: The OG’s first NA brew O’Doul’s: Anheuser-Busch’s classic has new limited-edition meantfor-Instagram cans by local artists in New York, Chicago, and LA.

WINE Napa Hills: Blend of fruit-flavored water and VitaRes (antioxidant blend with resveratrol, red grape skin, and red wine extract) with as many antioxidants as red wine O.Vine: Grape-infused wine water with “the health benefits of the real thing”

PHOTOS VIA ADOBE STOCK

SPIRITS Curious Elixirs: Individually bottled alcohol-free craft cocktails High Rhode by Kin: “Euphorics” made from nootropics and adaptogens, including 5-HTP, rhodiola, and caffeine Ritual Whiskey: “As a veggie burger is to beef, or almond milk is to dairy, Ritual is an alternative to traditional whiskey.”

Seedlip Spice 94: Gin-like blend of Jamaican allspice berry, cardamom, and citrus peel Stryyk: “Zero-proof spirits,” including Not Vodka, Not Rum, and Not Gin Three Spirit: “Social elixir” made from yerba mate, lion’s mane, damiana, and cacao

even a choice. As Sean Paul Mahoney writes on The Fix, a website about addiction and recovery, “I didn’t get sober to be cool. I just got sober to stop dying.”

A LITTLE BIT ADDICTED? “Sober curious” became a thing after HarperCollins released Ruby Warrington’s Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol in 2018.

Warrington also has a podcast, runs Club Söda NYC (featuring sober events like Kundalini Disco), and stages events. Her take is that a lot of Americans might not have a “problem” with alcohol but see it as getting in the way of their healthy lifestyles.

“We eat well. We exercise. We meditate,” the press release for Sober Curious states. “So, why do we…still drink?”

Warrington wants to know why the only people who don’t drink are the ones who can’t and asks, “What if I am just…a little bit addicted?”

Call me old school, but a little bit addicted sounds a lot like a little bit pregnant. I worry that people who shouldn’t will take the advice of John Costa, who writes on twentytwowords.com that being sober curious is like being bi-curious—you don’t always hook up with people of the same sex, and you don’t have to cut out drinking forever. “Be sober half the time,” he writes, “and sauced the other half.” He’s joking, but those are dangerous words for me. That’s the life I was living: sober by day + tanked by night = balance.

SOBERING STUDIES

ALCOHOL ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 1 IN 10 DEATHS OF PEOPLE AGED 15 TO 49 AND IS THE LEADING RISK FACTOR FOR DISEASE AND PREMATURE DEATH. Source: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

BINGE DRINKING RATES IN STATES WHERE CANNABIS IS LEGAL FELL TO 9 PERCENT BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND 11 PERCENT BELOW NONLEGAL STATES IN 2016.

Source: Cowen & Co.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

57

20 PAST 4 PROVISIONING CENTER Providing unparalleled Customer Service and Quality Cannabis in a warm welcoming environment

You’ve got Friends in High Places!

3590 Ann Arbor Rd, Jackson, MI 49202 United States

517-883-4200

20past4michigan.com

Full-service commercial printer

Marketing Material Show Displays Product Labels Forms Chuck DeVito Tel 248.752.7670 ChuckD@sdci.net www.sdci.net

58

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

PHOTO BY F8STUDIO VIA ADOBE STOCK

Like all disorders (and pretty much everything in our culture), alcohol use runs on a spectrum.

I was at the end that spent hours upon hours researching whether drinking while on this antibiotic would really make me projectile vomit and scoffed at friends as they struggled through Dry January, Dry July, Sober September, and Sober October. I wasn’t interested in giving up drinking for any reason or any amount of time— until I had to give it up for life.

Warrington, who sees reducing alcohol intake as another step in the wellness revolution, is at the other end of the spectrum—and she is aware of the difference between recovering from alcohol addiction and feeling better during yoga. I hope all of her followers are, too, because the last thing most drinkers need is a loophole.

I want to believe the trend Warrington is leading toward spirits-free activities and thoughtfulness about alcohol’s

role in our culture—where every ritual, celebration, loss, entertainment, and even sporting event is cause for a drink—is not a trend but a movement. That we’ll look back at “mommyjuice” like we shake our heads at “mother’s little helper” pills from the ’60s and ’70s. The infrastructure to support sobriety is being built, and public opinion is turning. After centuries of going hard, America is getting woke, not wasted.

Cheers to that.

A B O U T T H E AU T H O R

Robyn Griggs Lawrence is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook and Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

SOBERING STUDIES

A BRITISH STUDY OF DRY JANUARY ABSTAINERS FOUND THAT 82 PERCENT FELT A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT, 62 PERCENT SLEPT BETTER, AND 49 PERCENT LOST SOME WEIGHT.

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

59

The Last-Minute Gift Guide Gifts so good they’ll think you spent a year planning them.

2

3

1.

Bearbrick Aroma Ornament, $110 2. Hannah Candle in His and Hannah, $85 each 3. Wary Meyers Hippie Hollow Candle, $36

60

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORDSTROM

1

Is the thought of holiday panic shopping for the people in your life who deserve a lil token (tokin’) of appreciation from you this year getting you down? Don’t fret my pet. A recent study found that a moderate amount of procrastination can actually enhance creativity, providing the procrastinator extra time to generate novel ideas. So you weren’t waiting until the last minute—you’ve been waiting for inspiration to strike. And here it is.

If you missed Sensi’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide last month (or if you missed the window to order the items on it for arrival before, like, Martin Luther King Jr. Day), you’re still golden in our book. If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done. Or so we’ve heard. So we’ve packed our Last-Minute Gift Guide with all the thoughtful goodies you can give (or hope to receive).

4

PHOTOS: 4 BY EMMA ANZELONE; 7 COURTESY OF JACOB MAY

5

7

6

8

9

4. Kanha Nano Sugar Plum gummies, $18 5. Pet Releaf Edibites CBD Soft Chews, $28 Use the code PAWLIDAYSPR30 for 30% off site-wide and free shipping.

6. Koan Cannabis Cordials, $30/3 7. Sanctuary Dab Tabs, $40 8. Glass Distractions Cobalt Cup Set, $340 9. Unity Hemp Beverage Six Pack, $42

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

61

THE SCENE

10

11

10. Simon Miller Scrambler Chelsea Boot, $540 11. Higher Standards x Revelry Companion bag, $55 12. The Skateroom x Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Colored Skateboard Deck, $220

12

13. Ashish Sequin Flared Drawstring Trouser, $2,059 14. RopaNa Wellness Beanie, $24 15. Nike Blazer Mid ’77, $100

13

14

PHOTOS 10, 12, 13, 15 COURTESY OF NORDSTROM

15

62

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

THE SCENE

16

16. LuxeRolls Luxe Rose Heart Cannon, $25 17. Invincibowl + Invincipole, $30, $45 18. Suprette Missing Clipper Lighter, $10 19. Purejuana Cannabis-Infused Soluble Powder, 10-shot box starting at $19

20. GanjaGold Blue Pocket Tarantula, $42 21. F. Miller x JAM Earth Burners, $98 22. LuxePak StashPak, $20 23. Stone Road Roll-Your-Own Pouch, $50

17

18 PHOTOS: 17 BY JEFF HOUKA; 20 BY KEVIN ENGBERG; 21 COURTESY OF NORDSTROM

19

23

20

22 21

D EC E M B E R 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

63

THE END

Four Ways to Celebrate Winter Solstice

1. Line your windowsills with candles and light them as a symbol of the sun’s ability to give us both life and light.

2. Wake up early (or not all that early in Michigan) on the day of the winter solstice to watch the 64

MICHIGAN

D EC E M B E R 2 02 1

sunrise. Observe what you have lost in moments of darkness and will gain in the light to come.

3. Get naked in a sauna or winter solstice bath. Burn a citrus essential oil candle on add drops of the same oil to your water.

4. Create something handmade that honors the sun or the natural world (a poem, maybe, or a wreath from the foliage still left in your backyard). Let it symbolize the life that sustains even in times of darkness.

PHOTO BY BEN WHITE VIA UNSPLASH

TEXT TRACY ROSS

BENZONIA

MANISTEE

MUSKEGON

SAGINAW

1983 BENZIE HWY

240 ARTHUR ST.

LAKETON AVE. COMING SOON

3465 SHERIDAN AVE. MyGLNR.com

@MyGLNR

We’re spreading holiday cheer.

EXPERIENCE MICHIGAN’S FINEST CANNABIS. LANDING AT A LOCATION NEAR YOU. SEASONAL SAVINGS!

5g White Pine Live Resins for $100