Menominee began July without a single recreational cannabis dispensary. Five now operate in the Upper Peninsula city: The Fire Station, RIZE, Lume, Higher Love and Nirvana. Their swift arrival exploits the city's position directly across from Wisconsin, where marijuana possession remains illegal, creating high demand from cross-border customers.
Border Position Drives Dispensary Rush
The Fire Station opened first in late July, seizing Menominee's strategic spot. “Menominee was one of the areas that we identified as a great location for us,” said Stosh Wasik, CEO and co-founder of The Fire Station. “You know, it resonates with our brand, it’s relatable. We are born and raised, we’re Yoopers.”
This proximity pulls steady traffic from Wisconsin residents seeking legal access. Michigan's 2018 voter-approved recreational marijuana law opened the market statewide, but border communities like Menominee amplify the effect. Dispensaries here serve not only locals but a broader regional clientele, sustaining business despite tight clustering.
Curbside Model Accelerates Launches
All five sites restrict service to curbside or drive-thru pickup, bypassing full storefront requirements for faster openings. “Our building up front isn’t going to be open until spring of 2024,” Wasik said. “So, it’s a great opportunity for people to get used to us and get used to our brand and get used to the way that things work, and also provide safe and reliable accessibility to cannabis to people in the community. We were able to do it six to nine months sooner than we had traditionally planned.”
Even with some outlets just 300 feet apart, like The Fire Station and Lume, volume remains strong. Lume's manager, Steven Schilly, reports constant activity: “We stay pretty busy all day. It’s really nice. It gets a lot of the community out here.” The site accommodates 40 parking spaces, with room for 25 more cars in line.
Community Welcomes Access, Lawsuits Linger
Local enthusiasm matches the business pace. Lindsay Martwick, director of retail operations for Higher Love, observes foot traffic and support: “We have had people walking up to our building because, obviously, we’re in this little plaza here, so we see a lot of traffic and a lot of people. Everyone has been so positive and so responsive to us being here!”
Schilly echoes the convenience factor: “People are really excited to have a spot that’s going to offer more locations, which just makes it more convenient for everyone. It just allows closer access for different people in the Upper Peninsula.” Yet ongoing lawsuits cloud the future for Higher Love, Lume and Nirvana. Operations continue uninterrupted for now, underscoring the volatile regulatory landscape in Michigan's maturing cannabis sector.
