Now that Michigan’s miserably cold and snowy winter is over, people are emerging from hibernation and heading back outside.
Whether you’re going to the Eastern Market on Saturdays, picnicking at Belle Isle, or attending festivals and pop-up events throughout the state, spring is the season for a specific kind of cannabis.
The best spring weed is fresh, flavorful, and ideal for warm, sunny days and mild nights under the stars or at an outdoor concert. It’s a good time for sweet and fruity flower, uplifting live rosin, refreshing THC drinks, and decadent edibles. And when you’re on the run, vapes and prerolls are convenient and discreet.
Some cannabis is better for daytime energy, and others are good for relaxing with friends at a picnic, bonfire, or outdoor movie.
Here are some of the best cannabis products in Michigan for spring:
Few cultivators, if any, focus more on flavorful fruit and candy strains than Hytek, a high-end grower in Detroit that produces flower, live rosin, and prerolls. Their lineup is full of strains that are ideal for spring. They’re fresh and sweet and will enhance any sunny, easygoing day. Hytek’s flower strains that fit spring are Bubblegum Sherb, Candy Cartel, Candy Float, Curelato, Lantz, Lemon Cherry Gelato, Pink Runtz, and Pops 41. Hytek has also become one of the best live rosin producers in the state, and you won’t want to miss these strains for the spring — HY-Z, Lantz, Straw Guava, and Oishii. Hytek also produces rosin disposable vapes, which are convenient when you’re on the go and need something easy and discreet. The best prices for Hytek are at the Refinery in Detroit, the cultivator’s sister dispensary.
Freshy Fine’s ZHB, a cross of Zkittlez and Headband, works well for spring if your goal is to relax but feel uplifted. Sweet on the front end, with notes of pine and earth, ZHB delivers a cerebral, calming high that is ideal for a day on the boat, a Tigers game, or playing music on the patio. It’s one of Freshy Fine’s most popular flower strains, and for good reason. One of Michigan’s most reputable high-end cultivators, Freshy Fine also offers ZHB in CO2 disposable vapes and prerolls for anyone who wants a more portable option. Other Freshy Fine strains that are good for spring include Candy Cake, Sun Cake, and Wedding Pie.
There’s a good reason the Hive in Hazel Park has become one of the most sought-after cultivators in metro Detroit. The small, woman-owned dispensary grows some of the best flower in Michigan, and Superboof and Rainbow Beltz are two fruity strains with different effects. Superboof is an energizing strain that combines Black Cherry Punch and Tropicana Cookies, and the flavor bursts with orange and some funk. Rainbow Beltz is a fruity cross between Moonbow and Zkittles and is perfect for winding down after a long day outside. Both are also available in prerolls.
Mandarin Z is one of Information Entropy’s standout strains, and it’s easy to see why. A sativa-dominant hybrid made by crossing Mandarin Sunset with California Black Rose, Mandarin Z has a sweet citrusy aroma with notes of grapefruit, spice, and herbs. The effects are energizing and euphoric, making it a good choice for a stroll on the Riverwalk, a bike ride, or a pickup game at the park. Information Entropy, a dispensary with locations in Ann Arbor and New Buffalo, has built a strong reputation for producing some of the best in-house flower in Michigan, and Mandarin Z is one of the best examples of that. The strain is also available in disposable vapes and prerolls. Other Information Entropy strains ideal for spring are Project Z, Sherb Cream Pie, Apple & Bananas, and Limon Mandarina.
Freshy Fine’s ZHB, a cross of Zkittlez and Headband, works well for spring if your goal is to relax but feel uplifted. Sweet on the front end, with notes of pine and earth, ZHB delivers a cerebral, calming high that is ideal for a day on the boat, a Tigers game, or playing music on the patio. It’s one of Freshy Fine’s most popular flower strains, and for good reason. One of Michigan’s most reputable high-end cultivators, Freshy Fine also offers ZHB in CO2 disposable vapes and prerolls for anyone who wants a more portable option. Other Freshy Fine strains that are good for spring include Candy Cake, Sun Cake, and Wedding Pie.
Zlemonade is one of the fruitier strains in Premier Cannabis Farms’s stellar lineup, and it has a citrusy, lavender aroma with notes of Z terps. A sativa-dominant cross of Zkittlez and Lavender Lemonade, Zlemonade feels made for spring. The effects are uplifting and energetic, making it a good choice for gardening, taking a hike, or joining a couple thousand others for a Slow Roll ride. Premier Cannabis Farms, the family-owned Lansing cultivator often called 517, has built a reputation for potent, well-grown flower. Another Premier strain ideal for spring is Verde Limon Sherbert, a flavorful cross of Flo-Rida OG and Sunset Sherbet.
Highly Casual is a good spring pick for anyone looking for a lighter cannabis drink. Made by Emerald Canning Partners, a joint venture production facility in the historic Gibraltar Trade Center in Mount Clemens, the infused seltzer comes in flavors like Honeycrisp Apple, strawberry watermelon, lemon lime, and blueberry pineapple. The Honeycrisp Apple flavor, made with Michigan apples, follows the company’s “less sugar, more weed” approach. It’s a crisp, easygoing option for people who want a THC drink without the heaviness or sweetness of many infused beverages.
Who needs alcohol when you can drink delicious THC-infused beverages? Pleasantea is a refreshing drink for spring, and it’s lighter than most beverages and is easy to take outside. Produced by Emerald Canning Partners, this cannabis-infused iced tea comes in lemon, peach, and raspberry and has a clean, crisp flavor. Made with nano-emulsified THC for a quicker onset, the drinks are available in 10 mg and 30 mg cans, making them easy to dose depending on the day. With relatively low sugar and a smooth taste, Pleasantea works well for barbecues, festivals, or any other laidback reason to be outside.
Mary Jones is a good spring option for anyone who wants a THC drink that tastes more like a pop or flavored carbonated drink. From Jones Soda Co., the line features flavors like Berry Lemonade, Green Apple, Orange and Cream, and Grape. For anyone who grew up drinking Jones sodas from the iconic glass bottles, Mary Jones delivers some nostalgia with an infusion of THC. The flavors taste authentic, making these a fun alternative to other sugary drinks.
For energizing and uplifting effects that keep you active and motivated for a day outside, Banana Boat by Wojo is a reliable choice for spring. A sativa-dominant cross of Dubble Motorboat/ICC and Honey Banana, the live rosin has a distinctive flavor that tastes like bananas dipped in diesel. Based in Pinconning, Wojo has become one of Michigan’s most respected rosin producers, with a growing, ever-changing lineup divided into candy, citrus, floral, funky, and gassy categories. Sold in one-gram pucks and half-gram vapes, Wojo’s rosin is flavorful, reasonably priced, and widely available at dispensaries across the state.
Papaya is one of the best examples of what Exotic Matter does well. With a clean and pungent tropical fruit aroma and rich papaya flavor, this live rosin is smooth, creamy, and easy to handle, with a light-yellow badder that looks as good as it tastes. The effects are uplifting and balanced, providing enough energy to keep going without feeling the edge of many sativa-dominant strains. Exotic Matter is a small-scale cultivator that went from growing medical cannabis in a Michigan pole barn to building a loyal recreational following. It has earned a reputation for producing some of the best and most affordable flower and live rosin in the state, and Papaya is one of its standout strains. Other good Exotic Matter options for the spring are Orange Yuzu and Banana Candy.
Traverse City Rootbeer by Known is one of the more distinctive rosin strains in Michigan, with a flavor profile that really does taste like cherry root beer. A cross of GMO Rootbeer, Cherry Sherb, and Sour Diesel 91, it is dominated by sour fuel and root beer terps, with sweet cherry undertones and a hint of funky GMO. The effects are heavier and more relaxing, making it better for spring nights. Traverse City-based Known has built a strong reputation for small-batch, terpene-rich rosin, and Traverse City Rootbeer stands out as one of the clearest examples of the brand’s unique, genetic-hunted strains.
Pomelo Punch #5 by Eastside Alchemy is a good choice for spring, partly because of its bright citrus flavor that inspires a day in the sun. A potent hybrid made by crossing Orange Mints and Papaya, the rosin smells tangy and citrusy, with tart grapefruit on the front end and sweet fruit punch on the back end. The effects are uplifting and potent, making it a good choice for catching an outdoor concert, walking around the city, or camping. Eastside Alchemy, a small, tight-knit live rosin operation based in Lansing, has built a reputation for fresh, flavorful, and consistent rosin, and Pomelo Punch #5 shows why. Other ideal Eastside Alchemy strains for summer are Banana Shack, D-Lish, Papaya Juice, Too Much Grape #5, and Rainbow Guava.
For dabbers and vapers looking for flavorful and relaxing rosin without getting knocked out, Tallymon by Local Grove is a natural pick for spring. A hybrid made by crossing Papaya and Banana OG x Dosido, it has a pungent flavor profile with tropical fruit, candy banana, and nutty notes. The effects are euphoric, uplifting, and relaxing, making it a good choice for a low-key evening outside. Harrison Township-based Local Grove has built a strong following for its flower and live rosin, with a focus on small-batch cultivation, strong terpene profiles, and consistent quality. Its rosin has become more refined and is now among the best in the state. Local Grove sells Tallymon in one-gram jars and disposable vapes. Other good Local Grove strains for the spring are Rainbow Push Pop, Lime Heads, Honey Banana, and Papaya Crush.
Tators by Hey! Captain are a clever spin on the usual gummies and chocolates that dominate the edible sections at dispensaries. The Lansing-based brand known for creative, unique, and award-winning edibles has released THC-infused kettle chips that are crunchy and savory. If you’re heading to a picnic, park, or backyard party on a warm day, chips make more sense than heavy dessert edibles. The lineup includes Spicy Dill Pickle, Sea Salt, and Michigan Cherry BBQ, providing a mix of tangy, simple, and sweet-smoky options. Hey Captain! also makes dried candies, ice cream bites, nug-shaped white chocolate, and other specialty munchies.
Gelato Canna’s Fat & Weird Cookies are the kind of overindulgent edible that you treat friends and yourself for making it through another winter. These new decadent, infused treats are part of a unique collaboration between Michigan-based Gelato Canna and Fat & Weird Cookies, the nationally recognized brand known for its unique, oversized cookies. They’re rich, made for sharing, and come in five flavors — Big Sexy, Pitchen Tents, Massive Eruption, Cookie Anonymous, and Dubai Chocolate. “We’re combining two brands that refuse to be ordinary, and the result is something the market has never seen. Demand is going to speak for itself,” Chris Hindo, CEO of Gelato Canna, said.
