How a small grow in Jackson became one of Michigan’s top cannabis brands

Steve Neavling
Mi Loud produces some of the best flower and live rosin in the state.

Welcome to The Straight Dope, our weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.

In a cannabis market flooded with mid-tier flower and flashy packaging, a small cultivator tucked away in Jackson is producing some of the best flower and live rosin in the state.

Mi Loud isn’t trying to be the biggest, fastest, or cheapest. Instead of chasing high yields and mass production at budget prices, as so many cultivators do, the family-run business is focused on growing small batches of potent, terpene-rich cannabis. From strain selection to drying, slow curing, and trimming, Mi Loud is all about preserving quality, not cutting corners.

The flower is dense and sticky, with trichomes so thick they look like frost. Crack open a jar, and the aroma smacks you in the face. The smoke is smooth, flavorful, and potent.

Staying true to its focus on quality, Mi Loud packages its flower in black glass jars to preserve freshness and flavor. The packaging also includes the strain’s terpene profile, its lineage, and the common effects.

I’ve tried flower from more than 75 cultivators across Michigan, and Mi Loud is easily my favorite.

The family-run brand also recently began producing its own live rosin, an increasingly popular solventless concentrate known for its purity and rich flavors. And remarkably it’s already as impressive as other top-shelf concentrates in Michigan. Their rosin is consistently creamy, flavorful, and clean.

“Everything on our menu right now is medical grade,” Dennis, manager of Mi Loud, tells me. “That’s very important to us.”

Dennis asked that we not disclose his name to protect his family’s privacy.

Growing for quality

Unlike many cultivators that sell high-yield, easy-to-grow flower, Mi Loud focuses on strains that are high-quality, even if they’re harder to grow and don’t produce as much.

Whether it’s an earthy, citrus-forward sativa or a funky, gassy indica, Mi Loud’s cannabis tastes like it should and delivers hard-hitting effects.

Its cannabis is for people who care about good weed, not those looking for the ubiquitous cheap eighths that lack flavor, potency, and a pleasant finish.

The story of Mi Loud is rooted in family, persistence, and entrepreneurship. Soon after medical marijuana sales began in Michigan in 2018, Mi Loud became the third licensed cultivator in the state. The license is held by Dennis’s brother, Rob. Their father helped them build the cultivation facility.

Entrepreneurship runs deep in the family. Both brothers studied architecture and later shifted to hands-on business ventures. Dennis sold truck mounts, made soap in his basement, and eventually launched a successful concrete business with four trucks.

Their grandfather also carved his own path, starting a janitorial business.

Dialing in genetics

Mi Loud grew out of that commitment and quickly became a premier cannabis brand. Together with Mota Rebel Genetics, a seedbank known for its unique, exclusive strains, Mi Loud built its reputation on growing consistently high-quality flower.

“Our genetics catered to us and our growing style,” Dennis says. “We run the flower full-term, hang it for two weeks, and properly cure it. We’re not pushing it out.”

Many cultivators rush their flower out the door. The longer it’s not on the dispensary shelves, the less money they make. They often rely on genetics that produce quick-turnaround, low-maintenance flower. It’s often not cured and lacks potency and flavor.

At Mi Loud, the entire process — from selecting genetics to slow-curing the flower — is handled with patience and precision. It’s treated like a craft, not a race.

“We have to produce high-quality weed every time,” Dennis says. “If we don’t, we’ll lose our brand. It’s extremely hard to do.”

To stay afloat at a time when the market is saturated with budget weed, Mi Loud has to charge more for its flower than most cultivators. An eighth of an ounce, for example, ranges from $25 to $50.

But in a market that has driven prices so low that much of the weed is indecipherably bland, Mi Loud is worth every penny. After all, no one expects top-shelf whiskey or a fine bottle of wine to cost the same as a cheap handle. The same goes for good weed.

Earlier this year, Mi Loud began pressing its own live rosin, and somehow the initial batches are already top tier. Most new producers need time to dial in the process. Not Mi Loud.

“We used our garage at the facility and put in a commercial refrigerator, and we’re hand-mixing all of the rosin, and it’s all in-house,” Dennis says. “The guy we brought in has been mixing hash for 20 years now. He’s very in tune with our genetics.”

The rosin is remarkably consistent, with robust flavors and a lush, terpene-rich texture. The rosin comes in one-gram jars and half-gram vapes.

Reviewing the strains

I’ve tried 15 or so Mi Loud flower and rosin strains, and they’re so consistently good it’s hard to pick a favorite. But what first drew me to Mi Loud was their line of funky, nose-curling strains, like GMO, Garlic Cocktail, Party Foul, and Jar Jar Stinks #21, a hilarious nod to the bumbling Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks.

Each of these indica-dominant flower strains are hard-hitting and long-lasting. Like a smooth glass of whiskey, they’re perfect for unwinding and letting go of stress.

Jar Jar Stinks #21 is also available in rosin.

Over the past six months, no strain in the recreational market has been in my rotation more than Mi Loud’s OGKB2.1, a cross of OGKB and Dosido. It’s my go-to for unwinding and getting centered. About an hour before bed, my wife and I share a joint, and it helps us unplug and ease into sleep. It’s available in flower and rosin.

Zultar is Mi Loud’s hard-hitting strain that combines OGKB2.1 and Jar Jar Stinks #21. Together they create one of the strongest strains I’ve had in the legal market. It’s a pungent mix of garlic, spice, and diesel.

Zultar is available in both flower and rosin.

Mi Loud also has a lineup of fuel-soaked funk, like Faders Fuel, Chem n’ M’s, and Loud Diesel. These also hit hard and are more evenly balanced hybrids. They have a classic diesel profile — sharp, gassy, and bold — with just enough earth and funk to round it out.

If you like fruity flavors, Mi Loud also has you covered with strains like PieRene, Melonade, and Guava Juice. Each has very different effects and flavor profiles. PieRene, a delicious combination of Irene and Grape Pie, is a well-balanced hybrid that tastes as good as it smells. Melonade, a cross of Watermelon Zkittlez and Lemon Tree, is one of my favorite sativa-leaning strains. It’s clear-headed, uplifting, and energetic. For stress-relief, one of my favorites is Guava Juice, a cross between Guava IX and Guava IX x Chem D/StarDawg. Like its name suggests, this strain has a juicy, tropical profile with a smooth, guava-like finish.

Kush Mints is a strong, relaxing strain with a cool, minty flavor. A cross of Bubba Kush and Animal Mints, it hits smooth and delivers a mellow, full-body high. This is one of my favorites when I’m done working or just want to call it a day.

One of Mi Loud’s newest strains, Sunset Animal, boasts a sweet, creamy blend of tropical fruit, with subtle nutty notes and a hint of floral spice. A cross between Sunset Sherbet and Animal Cookies, the strain hits hard. I could only find it in a disposable vape, and it was worth it. It’s one of the best-tasting disposable vapes I’ve ever tried.

Mi Loud is working on new strains, including Speaker Knockerz, 21 Stars, Rainbow Guava, and Kyber Crystal. They also recently dropped Neon Drip and will soon unveil Blue Zushi, a cross between Kush Mints and the Original Z, and White Fire x Tahoe Alien.

Mi Loud is available in about 45 dispensaries. Local ones include the Refinery in Detroit, Green Genie in Detroit, Supergood in Detroit, Liberty Cannabis in Detroit and Madison Heights, and Wayne ReLeaf in Wayne.

In addition to carrying Mi Loud rosin, the Refinery and Supergood offer deli flower, and the prices are hard to beat.

In an industry that often favors speed over quality, Mi Loud has built something rare. And in today’s oversaturated market, it’s worth holding onto.

If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at [email protected].

Scroll down to view images
Mi Loud’s Melonade is a sativa-dominant cross of Watermelon Zkittlez and Lemon Tree.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s Melonade is a sativa-dominant cross of Watermelon Zkittlez and Lemon Tree.
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Mi Loud’s Zultar is cross between OGKB2.1 and Jar Jar Stinks #21.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s Zultar is cross between OGKB2.1 and Jar Jar Stinks #21.
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Jar Jar Stinks #21 by Mi Loud is a potent strain that crosses GMO with Chem91/Deathstar BX1.
Steve Neavling
Jar Jar Stinks #21 by Mi Loud is a potent strain that crosses GMO with Chem91/Deathstar BX1.
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Mi Loud’s Loud Diesel is a cross of New York Diesel and Deep Chunk.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s Loud Diesel is a cross of New York Diesel and Deep Chunk.
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Mi Loud’s OGKB2.1 is a powerful cross of OGKB and Dosido.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s OGKB2.1 is a powerful cross of OGKB and Dosido.
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Mi Loud’s flower is available in jars and the deli, like this one at Supergood in Detroit.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s flower is available in jars and the deli, like this one at Supergood in Detroit.
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Faders Fuel by Mi Loud is a diesel-heavy strain that combines Deathstar/Mainline OG x Chem91/Deathstar BX1.
Steve Neavling
Faders Fuel by Mi Loud is a diesel-heavy strain that combines Deathstar/Mainline OG x Chem91/Deathstar BX1.
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Mi Loud’s Kush Mints is a relaxing strain that combines Bubba Kush and Animal Mints.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s Kush Mints is a relaxing strain that combines Bubba Kush and Animal Mints.
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PieRene is a well-balanced hybrid that combines Irene and Grape Pie.
Steve Neavling
PieRene is a well-balanced hybrid that combines Irene and Grape Pie.
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Mi Loud’s Guava Juice is a cross between Guava IX and Guava IX x ChemD/StarDawg.
Steve Neavling
Mi Loud’s Guava Juice is a cross between Guava IX and Guava IX x ChemD/StarDawg.
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