Westland is among 21% of cities in Michigan that have allowed recreational sales of Marijuana. December 1st marks the first day of sales to the general public but only a handful of licenses in Michigan have been granted so far. It will be at least a few months before Marijuana business are able to open their doors in Westland. As of December 1st, the following businesses in Ann Arbor are licensed to sell to Michigan residents 21 & up:

• GreenStone Provisions – 338 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
• Arbors Wellness – 321 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
• Exclusive Brands 3820 Varsity Drive in Ann Arbor, MI 48108
• Green Peak Innovations/Skymint 1958 South Industrial Highway Suite A and B, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Local media reported that many had camped overnight outside the Exclusive dispensary. See the video in the comments section on the original post.

The cities that have opted out of recreational sales will miss out on a share of the 10-percent excise tax on sales. Those cities and their businesses could also miss out on establishing key partnerships in the emerging industry. The Federal Government recently legalized Hemp production for industrial use, which has allowed businesses like Fibonacci to take action on a revolutionary new patent: HempWood. It’s a building material that is meant to compete with wood grown from trees, the most pervasive material used in home construction.

Hemp wood is a hardwood suitable for interior building materials, furniture, flooring and consumer products like cutting boards and skateboards and could greatly reduce the demand for other wood products, saving trees and money. Hemp grows 100 times faster than an oak tree and can be harvested in as little as four months when planted from seed, compared to the decades needed to harvest a mature oak tree. It also has a density which is 20% more than Oak.

Hemp wood is made from low THC cannabis plants containing a concentration of no more than 0.3 percent THC. The hemp pulp fibers are compressed by process of bio-mimicry and strengthened with a tested soy-based glue.

The first HempWood factory has been up and running in Kentucky for just a short time, but the new material won’t be for sale until later this year. This is just one of several new products related to the marijuana industry that could cause a domino effect in the marketplace.

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