One Year of Recreation Cannabis in Traverse City

After one year of recreational cannabis sales in Traverse City, those involved say it’s been worth the sometimes-bumpy wait.

Many municipalities throughout the state saw recreational cannabis operations up and running not long after Michigan voters first legalized the practice in 2018. It was a different story in Traverse City, where officials hashed (and re-hashed) the finer points of how to roll out rec cannabis for years before dispensaries finally got the green light to sell it in March 2023.

In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, writer Art Bukowski connects with officials at the city and within the cannabis community to see how this first year has been, and what’s on the horizon. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.